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VEGETABLE  MATERIA  MEDICA 


OF  THE 


UNITED  STATES : 

OR, 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/vegetablemateriaOObart 


VEGETABLE  MATERIA  MEDIC  A 


OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES; 

$ - 

OR 

CONTAINING 

A BOTANICAL,  GENERAL,  AND  MEDICAL  HISTORY,  OF  MEDICINAL 
PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

ILLUSTRATED  BY 

COLOURED  ENGRAVINGS, 

MADE  AFTER  ORIGINAL  DRAWINGS  FROM  NATURE,  DONE  BY  THE  AUTHOR, 

BY  WILLIAM  P.  C.  BARTON,  M.  D. 

SURGEON  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES’  NAVY,  AND  OF  THE  NAVAL  HOSPITAL  AT  PHILADELPHIA : 

AND 

PROFESSOR  OF  BOTANY  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

VOLUME  II. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  BY  M.  CAREY  & SON,  CORNER  OF  FOURTH  AND  CHESNUT  STREETS, 

JOSEPH  R.  A.  SXF.RRETT,  PRINTER, 


1818 


EASTERN  DISTRICT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA,  TO  WIT: 

RE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  third  day  of  December,  in  the  forty-third. year  of  the 
Independence  of  the  Cnited  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1818,  WILLIAM  P.  C.  BARTON,  of  the 
said  District,  hatli  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a Book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  Au- 
thor, in  the  words  following,  to  wit:  “Vegetable  Materia  Medica  of  the  United  States;  or  Medical 
Botany:  containing  a Botanical,  General,  and  Medical  History  of  Medicinal  Plants,  indigenous  to 
the  United  States.  Illustrated  by  coloured  Engravings,  made  after  original  drawings  from  nature, 
done  by  the  author.  By  William  P.  C.  Barton,  M.  D.  Surgeon  in  the  United  States’  Navy,  and 
of  the  Naval  Hospital  at  Philadelphia  : and  Professor  of  Botany  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
Volume  II  ” In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  “ An  act  for 
the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned.” — And  also  to  the  act,  enti- 
tled, “ An  act  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled,  “An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by 
securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies 
during  the  times  therein  mentioned,”  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing, 
engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.” 

D.  CALDWELL,  Clerk  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania * 


f ' 


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TO 

ibwuskb* 

AN  ACCOMPLISHED  SCHOLAR, 

AND 

AN  EMINENT  MEMBER  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  BAR: 


THIS  VOLUME, 

IN  EVIDENCE  OF  ESTEEM, 

AND  IN  GRATITUDE  FOR  HIS  LONG-TRIED  FRIENDSHIP, 


IS  INSCRIBED 


BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


IN  presenting  tlie  second  volume  of  this  work  to  the  public,  it  may 
be  proper  to  offer  a few  remarks,  relative  to  the  nature  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  the  progress  which  has  been  made  towards  achieving  it.  As 
soon  as  my  attention  was  directed  to  the  Botany  of  our  country,  it 
appeared  to  me  obvious,  that  a rich  treasure  of  Medicinal  vegetables, 
remained  imperfectly  described  and  unknown.  Considering,  indeed, 
the  vast  extent  of  territory,  and  the  luxuriance  and  number  of  the  ve- 
getables of  the  United  States,  its  botany  has  been  investigated  with  a 
surprising  degree  of  zeal  and  research.  But,  unfortunately,  only  its 
nomenclatural  botany,  has  hitherto  excited  much  attention.  I did 
believe,  when  I conceived  the  design  of  illustrating  the  medical 
botany  of  our  country,  that  such  a work,  even  though  it  were  limit- 
ed to  the  delineation  and  description  of  the  known  medicinal  plants, 
or  those  supposed  to  be  medicinal,  would  have  the  effect  of  directing 
a more  general  attention  to  this  important  subject,  than  had  pre- 
viously been  bestowed,  and  of  giving  an  impulse  perhaps,  to  the 
studies  and  observations  of  those  physicians  and  botanists  whose 
qualifications  and  opportunities  were  equally  propitious  to  investi- 
gations of  this  nature.  And  it  must  be  confessed,  I have  had  my  an- 
ticipation, on  this  point,  fully  realized.  To  this  work,  and  that  of  my 
fellow  traveller  in  the  same  path,  may  perhaps  be  attributed,  some 


Ylll 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


of  the  eager  curiosity  and  attention  which  our  native  medicinal 
plants  now  manifestly  excite.  Thus  much  may,  it  is  hoped,  with 
propriety  be  said.  And  if  this  work  only  perform  the  office  of  the 
finger-post  on  the  road,  which,  though  it  stirs  not  one  inch  of  the 
way  itself,  points  out  the  right  path  to  be  pursued,  it  will  not  have 
been  published  in  vain.  Already  the  attention  to  this  subject  may  be 
seen,  in  a late  valuable  edition  of  the  Edinburgh  Dispensatory,  by  Dr. 
Dyckman,  of  New  York,  in  which  more  of  our  native  medicines  will 
be  found,  than  have,  heretofore,  appeared  in  the  American  Dispensato- 
ries. And  it  is  not  doubted,  that  when  the  national  Pharmacopoeia, 
now  meditated,  is  given  to  the  world,  the  Materia  Medica  of  the 
United  States  will  not  only  be  extensively  used  by  our  own  physi- 
cians, but  will  be  eagerly  sought  for  by  those  of  foreign  countries. 
But,  our  Materia  Medica  is  not  the  only  worthy  object  of  enquiry,  to 
the  botanist : tbe  Materia  Alimentaria  of  North  America,  is  equally  in- 
teresting. From  an  unfortunate  race  of  human  beings  now  rapidly 
disappearing,  by  the  influence  of  the  combined  effects  of  warfare, 
civilization,  and  amalgamation  with  the  whites,  much  valuable  infor- 
mation might,  in  all  probability  be  obtained,  on  the  subject  of  their  ma- 
teria alimentaria.*  For  among  the  esculent  vegetables  of  the  Indians 

' It  is  highly  probable  that  among  the  manuscripts  which  were  left  by  the  late  Pro- 
fessor Barton,  much  interesting  information  on  this  subject  might  be  collected.  His 
well  known  inquisitiveness,  and  his  constant  habit  of  recording,  in  however  desultory  a 
manner,  the  facts  with  which  his  enquiries  made  him  acquainted,  warrant  the  belief, 
that  the  public  are  deprived  of  some  curious  and  very  interesting  knowledge,  in  conse- 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


IX 


of  our  country,  it  has  always  been  supposed  there  were  some  worthy 
of  cultivation  for  the  table.  This  has  heretofore  been  prevented, 
in  consequence  of  our  ignorance  of  the  identical  plants,  or  precise  spe- 
cies, which  were  used  by  the  savages.  The  travels  of  Lewis  and  Clarke, 
have  put  us  in  possession  of  the  Indian  names  of  many  native  dietetic 
articles,  and  these  names  have  occasionally  been  accompanied  by  im- 
perfect descriptions.  Not  much  more  therefore  than  conjectures,  could 
be  expected  to  arise  from  such  informal  and  unscientific  accounts ; 
and  indeed,  little  else  has  resulted,  on  this  subject,  from  the  rich  op- 

quence  of  the  cloak  which  has  been  thrown  over  his  collections.  Strange  as  it  may  ap- 
pear, it  is  not  the  less  true,  that  not  a single  one  of  these  manuscripts,  not  even  his 
lectures  on  Materia  Medica,*  has  ever  seen  the  light.  The  public  is  yet  to  be  inform- 
ed what  has  become  of  the  industrious  collections  of  that  eminent  man  ; and  it  is  sin- 
cerely hoped  they  have  not  been  recklessly  destroyed.  Though  the  author  of  this  work, 
his  own  nephew,  was  engaged  in  the  same  pursuits  which  occupied  much  of  the  time 
and  attention  of  the  late  Professor,  not  a single  line  of  his  manuscripts  has  ever  been  put 
into  his  hands,  or  seen  by  him ; nor  was  his  opinion  even  asked  about  the  disposition  of 
them.  But  on  the  contrary,  he  was  refused  a sight  of  such  memorandums  and  notes  as 
were  asked  to  enable  him  to  write  an  authentic  account  of  his  life,  when  called  on  so  to 
do  by  the  Philadelphia  Medical  Society,  of  which  the  Professor,  at  the  time  of  his 
decease,  was  president.  It  has  been  deemed  proper  to  make  this  public  avowal,  because 
it  has  been  mentioned  to  the  author,  that  some  persons  supposed  him  possessed  of  all 
the  papers  and  collections  of  the  late  Professor  Barton,  designing  by  such  intimation, 
to  deprive  the  author  of  whatever  credit  his  persevering  exertions,  in  despite  of  dis- 
couraging and  opposing  obstacles,  may  have  deserved. 

* The  manuscript  lectures  on  Materia  Medica,  were  sold  to  Mr.  Dobson,  more  tha*  two  years  since,  but 
have  not  yet  been  published. 


X 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


portunities  of  that  governmental  expedition.  It  is  well  known,  that  no 
botanist  or  naturalist  accompanied  those  travellers;  although  our  or- 
nithology might  have  been  enriched  by  some  new  species  of  birds, 
or  some  interesting  facts  relative  to  the  habits  and  migrations  of 
known  species,  had  the  humble  and  entreating  offer  of  the  lamented 
Wilson,*  to  accompany  the  expedition,  been  accepted.  It  is  neither 
my  intention,  nor  my  province,  in  this  place,  to  make  any  animad- 
versions on  the  direction  of  that  great  undertaking  : but  I cannot  for- 
bear to  remark,  that  from  the  discoveries  made  by  a botanical  exa- 
mination of  the  few  plants  brought  by  captain  Lewis,  we  are  war- 
ranted in  the  belief,  that  a very  spendid  harvest  might  have  been 
reaped,  had  any  competent  botanist  accompanied  the  party.  I need 
only  mention,  in  proof  of  this,  the  discovery  of  the  plant  which  yields 
the  bread-root  of  the  Indians. 

The  Opopanok , the  Mockshauw , the  wild-potatoe , and  the  hog -potatoes 
are  yet  entirely  unknown  ; at  least  the  identical  plants  bearing  these 
names,  are  not  yet  ascertained.  They  are,  undoubtedly,  native  vege- 
tables; and  it  was  formerly  supposed  that  some  one  or  two  of  them, 

'*For  an  affecting  account  of  the  transaction  here  aliuded  to,  I beg  leave  to  refer  to 
the  masterly  biographical  sketch  of  his  friend,  by  John  (3rd,  Esq.  prefixed  to  the  tenth 
volume  of  Wilson’s  Ornithology,  which  was  edited  by  this  zealous  naturalist. 

f 1 am  aware  that  the  convolvulus  panduratus  has  been  called  hog-potutoc,  but  whether 
it  is  really  the  plant  so  commonly  recognised  by  that  name  formerly,  is  somewhat  pro- 
blematical. 

2 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


XI 


were  aboriginal  names  for  the  common  Irish-potatoe,  (solanum  tu- 
berosum.) The  enquiries  and  investigations,  however,  of  the  late 
Professor  Barton,  in  relation  to  this  subject,*  while  they  prove,  beyond 
the  possibility  of  doubt,  that  the  Irish-potatoe,  as  it  is  generally  now 
called,  is  not  a native  of  any  part  of  North-America,  sufficiently  sa- 
tisfy us,  that  neither  of  the  vegetables  under  the  above  names,  can 
be  identical  with  that  plant. 

The  travels  of  Baron  Humboldt,  which  have  so  much  enriched 
our  knowledge,  by  details  of  the  practical  and  ceconomical  uses  of 
plants,  acquaint  us,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Palma  and  Gomera  make 
a composition  out  of  the  root  of  Pteris  aquilina  and  barley-meal,  which 
serves  them  for  food.f  This  fern  is  plentifully  distributed  along  the 
moist  edges  of  woods,  fields  and  bogs,  all  over  the  United  States.  It 
grows  near  the  falls  of  Schuylkill,  and  indeed  all  along  its  western 
shores,  and  in  Jersey,  near  the  Delaware  river.  The  Lenni- 
Lenappes,  we  well  know,  used  two  important  dietetic  articles,  the 
Mockshauw,  and  a subterranean  aquatic  tuber,  which  has  by  some 
been  conjectured  to  be  the  Sagittaria  sagittifolia.f  This,  however, 

* Tilloch’s  Philosophical  Magazine. 

f They  grind  the  roots  to  powder,  then  mix  it  with  the  meal,  and  hoil  it.  When  thus 
prepared,  it  is  termed  gojio. 

t While  I have  mentioned  this  plant,  I may  not  inappropriately  state,  that  the  root 
seems  to  have  been  successfully  used  as  a poultice,  in  cases  of  sphacelating  ulcers. 


Ml 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


certainly  is  not  the  case ; but  the  Pteris  aquilina  may  be  the  plant 
meant  under  the  name  of  Mockshauw.  I throw  this  out  as  a mere 
suggestion ; at  the  same  time  I ought  to  remark,  that  in  perusing  the 
“Materia  Venenaria  regni  Vegetabilis,”  of  Puihn,  I met  with  an  ob- 
servation relative  to  Orontium  aquaticum,  (which  also  inhabits  the 
borders  of  rivers,  and  such  places  as  the  Delaware  Indians  were  said 
to  have  resorted  to  for  their  favourite  Mockshauw,)  which  induced  me 
to  think  it  not  improbable,  that  this  is  the  plant  intended  by  that  name. 
The  observation  is  as  follows:  “Orontii  aquatici  radix,  qute  cineribus 
tosta  Americanis  sylvestribus  cibo  est,  cruda  ob  acredinem  homini- 
bus  toxifera  habetur.  Semina  quoque,  qute  bene  siccata  et  cum  aqua 
aliquoties  cocta  ferculum  exhibent,  cruda  acerrima  sunt.”* 

“The  Indians  had  their  sallads,’’  we  are  told  by  the  late  Professor 
Barton,  who  remarks  at  the  same  time  that  the  “ Indian  sallad and 
the  “ Shawnee  sallad of  the  states  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  are  praised 
by  the  white  settlers $ and  adds,  “they  are  unknown  to  me.”f  It 

An  officer  of  the  war  department  pointed  out  this  plant  to  me  in  a marsh  in  the  city  of 
Washington,  and  informed  me,  that  an  officer  in  the  army,  with  whom  lie  was  acquainted, 
had  caused  the  plant  to  be  dug  up,  the  roots  bruised,  moistened,  and  applied  to  a very 
extensive  and  ill-conditioned  ulcei’,  in  which  mortification  had  commenced,  and  that 
one  or  two  applications  of  the  poultice  checked  the  progress  of  the  mortification,  and 
the  sore  healed  kindly  and  rapidly. 

* Materia  Venenaria,  p.  80. 

f Collections  for  a Materia  Medica,  and  Discourses  on  some  of  the  principal  deside- 
rata of  Natural  History,  read  before  the  Philadelphia  Linnsean  Society. 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


Xlll 


would  perhaps  be  going  too  far  to  say,  at  this  period  of  my  informa- 
tion on  the  subject,  that  I had  ascertained  the  plant  to  which  these 
names  refer ; though  I am  certainly  warranted  in  saying,  that  the  facts 
I am  possessed  of  render  it  extremely  probable,  that  the  Shawnee  or 
Indian  sallad  of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  is  the  Hydrophyllum  appendi- 
culatum.* 

But  these  are  merely  a few  instances  of  the  desiderata  on  this 
point.  From  an  investigation  of  so  rich  a subject,  much  novel  and  in- 
teresting information  must  necessarily  be  acquired. 

* Sometime  since.  Dr.  Short,  of  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky,  sent  a specimen  of  a plant 
to  a friend  in  this  city,  with  the  following  note : « I send  you  a plant,  vulgarly  known 
in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  by  the  name  of  Woollen-breeclies.  The  young 
shoots  are  eaten  in  the  spring,  as  a sallad,  and  highly  praised  by  all  who  eat  them. 
I could  wish  to  know  the  name  of  this  plant,  which  I understand  Mr.  Correa  was 
very  anxious  to  see,  when  in  this  part  of  the  world.”  The  plant  in  question  proves 
on  examination,  to  he  Hydrophyllum  appendiculatum.  I subsequently  received  a better 
specimen  from  Dr.  Eberle,  of  Lancaster,  who  obtained  it,  I believe,  from  the  late  Dr. 
Muhlenberg,  or  who  found  it  in  one  of  the  books  purchased  from  the  reverend  doctor’s 
library.  From  this  specimen,  aided  in  the  colour  of  the  flowers,  by  a sketch  sent  on  the 
blank  page  of  the  letter,  by  Dr.  Short,  I have  made  a drawing.  I have  already  said, 
I do  not  assert  that  this  plant  yields  the  Shawnee  sallad,  or  Indian  sallad  so  called ; 
but  as  it  certainly  is  an  Indian  sallad,  and  inhabits  the  districts  of  country  in  which 
the  Shawnee  sallad  is  said  to  grow,  it  is  by  no  means  unlikely  that  it  may  be  the  plant 
intended  by  those  appellations ; and  from  what  has  been  said  concerning  it,  is  un- 
doubtedly worthy  of  cultivation.  The  roots  of  a species  of  the  same  genus,  Hydro- 
phyllum Canadensis,  we  learn,  were  eaten  by  the  Indians  in  times  of  scarcity. 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


xiv 

Impressed  with  these  views,  I had  determined,  after  embracing 
the  whole  of  the  medicinal  plants  of  these  states,  to  continue  the 
work  by  delineating  all  the  dietetic  native  vegetables  of  our  country, 
and  giving  of  each  a correct  coloured  plate.  Whether  this  part  of  my 
design  will  ever  be  accomplished,  it  is  difficult  to  say.  There  are 
many  discouraging  circumstances  connected  with  investigations  of 
this  nature,  which  I may  not  feel  willing  to  combat  or  oppose.  Among 
them,  is  the  notorious  discouraging  influence,  at  least  in  this  city,  rela- 
tive to  botanical  pursuits,  proceeding  too  from  sources  where  acciden- 
tal and  professional  elevation  gives  a kind  of  adventitious  importance 
to  opinions,  which  would  otherwise  be  wholly  inefficient  in  their  ope- 
ration, if  not  beneath  notice  or  refutation.  As  regards  my  own  efforts, 
I am  free  to  confess,  that  my  interests  are  too  deeply  connected  with 
such  opposition  to  the  pursuits  of  the  professorship  I have  the 
honour  to  hold,  to  be  very  solicitous  to  run  counter  to,  or  struggle 
against,  such  appalling  circumstances.  And  at  least  necessity,  if  not 
the  will,  would  urge  a relinquishment  of  pursuits,  which  are  indus- 
triously taught  to  be  incompatible  with  the  severe,  and  more  useful 
occupations  of  medicine,  or  with  the  attainment  of  the  more  conspi- 
cuous eminence  to  which  the  practice  of  physic  and  surgery  lead. 

It  may  now  be  proper  to  inform  the  public  of  the  state  of  forward- 
ness of  this  work.  The  whole  number  of  plates  necessary  to  complete 
it,  are  engraved ; and  were  it  not  for  the  tediousness  of  the  colour- 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


XV 


ing,*  the  second  volume  might  be  presented  complete,  in  a month 
from  this  time.  By  the  first  of  the  ensuing  March,  however,  the 
eighth  and  last  number  will  be  published.  And  though  all  the  im- 
portant medicinal  plants  of  our  country,  cannot  be  comprehended 
within  the  limits  to  which  it  was  thought  prudent,  on  the  subscribers’ 
account,  to  affix  to  the  present  undertaking,  still,  it  is  hoped,  a suffi- 
cient number  have  been  figured  and  described,  to  render  the  work 
useful.  If  the  public  desire  a continuance  of  it,  their  encourage- 
ment may  effect  it.  To  them  already  the  publishers  are  indebted  for 
a very  extensive  patronage,  and  the  author  for  a very  flattering 
reception  of  his  labours.  The  former  were  richly1  entitled  to  it  by  their 
enterprise,  in  undertaking  so  costly  a publication,  and  their  great 

* It  may  be  proper  to  mention  in  this  place,  that  when  this  work  was  com- 
menced, the  author  believed,  being  under  the  impression  that  the  subscription  would  be 
very  limited,  that  he  would  be  enabled  to  execute  all  the  colouring  with  his  own  hand. 
The  large  subscription  which  was  immediately  filled  up,  soon  convinced  him,  that  this 
was  utterly  impracticable;  and  he  consequently  was  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  the  as- 
sistance of  others.  And  even  with  the  assistance,  sometimes  of  six  persons,  he  could 
not  supply  the  coloured  copies  as  rapidly  as  the  publishers  orders  called  for.  He 
has  been  fortunate  in  meeting  in  his  own  family,  with  some  persons,  whose  colouring 
is  faithful — but  in  many  instances  he  has  met  with  repeated  disappointment  and  mortifi- 
cation, in  those  who  wanted  this  faithfulness — and  in  despite  of  all  exertions  to  prevent  it, 
some  colouring  has  passed  through  his  hands,  which,  though  not  very  faulty,  was  far  from 
being  as  well  executed  as  could  be  desired.  With  a view  to  complete  the  work  as  soon 
as  possible,  a few  plates  have  been  done  by  Mr.  Boyd,  and  Mr.  Warnicke ; the  largest 
number,  however,  have  been  executed  by  Messrs.  Tanner,  Yallance,  Kearny,  and  Co. 
The  plates  are  highly  creditable  to  the  talents  of  all  these  excellent  artists. 


XVI 


PRELIMINARY  OBSERVATIONS. 


liberality  in  conducting  it;  and  the  author  can  say  with  sincerity,  that 
lie  has  spared  no  effort  in  endeavouring  to  render  his  work  useful,  and 
worthy  of  the  distinguished  countenance  with  which  it  has  been 
honoured. 


Philadelphia , December  3d,  1818, 


PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 


MAY-APPLE. 

Mandrake.  Wild  Lemon.  Ipecacuanha.  Duck’s-foot,  (in  England.) 

Germ.  Schildblattriger  Entenfuss.  (Willd.)  Entenfuss ; Fluss  blatt. 

Dutch.  Eendenpoot. 

Podophyllum  peltatum.  L.  Sp.  PI.  723.  a.  Murr.  489.  Hort.  Kew.  ii.  222. 
Boerh.  ii.  72.  Catesb.  Car.  1. 1.  24.  Schoepf.  86.  Bart.  Collections,  31.  37. 40. 
ed.  3d.  31.  39.  Coxe’s  Disp.  ed.  3d.  p.  499.  Thatcher’s  Disp.  ed.  3d.  p.  318. 
Dale  421.  col.  1.  par.  1.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  iii.  p.  179.  Bigelow,  Florula 
Bost.  p.  132.  Pursh.  FI.  Am.  ii.  366.  Juss.  235.  Mich.  FI.  Am.  i.  309.  Hort. 
Cliff.  202.  Hort.  Ups.  137.  Gron.  Yirg.  5.  Roy.  Lugdb.  480.  Trew.  ehret.  t. 
29.  Mill.  Diet.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  7.  p.  187.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  ii.  par. 
iii.  p.  1141.  Dyckman’s  edition  of  the  Edinburg  Dispen.  p.  347.  Barton’s 
Cullen,  vol.  i.  p.  91.  vol.  ii.  p.  375.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  ii.  p.  10.  Bart. 
Prod.  FI.  Ph.  57.  Bart.  Compendium  Florae  Philadelphia,  vol.  ii.  p.  9. 
Mentz.  Pugill.  t.  1 1.  Ait.  Hort.  Kew.  vol.  iii.  287.  Lamarck,  Illustr.  t.  449, 
Muhl.  Cat.  53.  Pharm.  Med.  Soc.  Mass.  26. 

PODOPHYLLUM. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  879. 

Cor.  9-petala,  (610  petala.  B.)  Cal.  3-phyllus.  Dacca  1-locularis,  coronata  stigmate, 

2 


VOL.  II. 


10 


Podophyllum  peltatum. 


Calix  5-leaved.  Petals  9.  Stigma  even  ate,  sessile.  Capsule  superior,  1-celled,  many- 
seeded,  becoming  an  ovate  berry.  Receptacle  unilateral,  large  and  pulpy. — 
J Witt. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Ranunculaceoe.  Classis  XIII.  Ordo  I. 

Podofhyixum,  L.*  A napodophyllum,  T.*  Calix  3-phyllus.  Petala  9.  Stylus  0;  stigma 
capitatum.  Caiilis  2-phyllus  foliis  palmatis,  in  dichotomia  1 -floras  jlore  albo. 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  235. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Rhoeadece. 

Classis  Polyandria.  Ordo  Monogynia.  Lin.  Syst. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  interior,  of  three  large,  coloured,  ovate,  concave,  ascending 
leaves,  soon  falling.  Cor.  Petals  nine,  orbicular,  concave,  plaited  at  the  mar- 
gin. Stain.  Filaments  numerous,  very  short  ; anthers  oblong,  large,  erect. 
Pist.  Germen  superior,  roundish;  style  none;  stigma  obtuse,  furrowed.  Pei'ic. 
Berry  globose,  crowned  with  the  permanent  stigma,  of  one  cell.  Seeds  numer- 
ous, roundish.  Receptacle  central,  unconnected. 

Ess.  Ch.  Corolla  of  nine  petals.  Calix  of  three  leaves,  deciduous.  Berry  of  one  cell, 
crowned  with  the  stigma.  Ency. 

Podophyllum  peltatum ; stem  one-flowered ; leaves  peltate,  palmate,  lobate ; lobes 
cuneate,  incised.  Barton’s  Compendium  Florje  Philadelphia,  vol.  ii.  p.  9. 


SYNONYMA. 

Axapodophyllum  Canadense.  Catesb. 

Aconitifolia  humilis,  flore  albo  unico  campanulato  fructu  cynosbati.  Mentz. 

PHARM. 

Podophylli  peltati,  Radix ; interdum/rucius. 

2 


Podophyllum  peltatum. 


ll 


The  generic  name  Podophyllum , is  derived  from  *•««■,  a foot,  and 
a leaf,  from  a fancied  resemblance  of  the  leaf  to  the  web-foot 
of  aquatic  birds.  It  was  called  originally  by  Tournef ortMapodophyllon, 
from  anas , the  Latin  name  for  a duck ; butLinnseus’s  more  correct  no- 
tions of  derivation,  caused  him  to  modify  this  exceptionable  word  in 
the  manner  it  is  now  universally  received.  The  species  which  is  the 
subject  of  this  article,  is  a hardy  perennial  herbaceous  plant,  and  is  per- 
haps, one  of  the  most  important  medicinal  vegetables  indigenous  to 
our  country.  The  root  is  creeping,  very  long,  often  from  three  to  six 
feet  in  length,  of  a burnt-umber  or  bistre  colour  externally,  and  yel- 
lowish-white within.  It  is  smooth  and  round,  but  interrupted  by  joints 
or  nodes,  from  which  proceed  numerous  large  fibres  of  a colour  con- 
siderably lighter  than  the  main  root.  The  stem  is  upright,  simple, 
round,  smooth,  yellowish-green,  about  a foot  or  fourteen  inches  high, 
supporting  two  large  leaves,  and  a single  flower  in  the  fork,  formed  by 
the  junction  of  the  petioles.  The  leaves  when  they  first  appear  are 
often  marked  with  brown  discolorations;  these  occasionally  continue 
on  them  when  mature.  They  are  peltate,  the  petioles  inclining  mostly 
towards  the  edge  of  the  fissure  in  the  base.  They  are  palmately  di- 
vided for  the  most  part  into  six  large  lobes,  attenuated  towards  the 
bottom,  and  irregularly  incised  at  the  top,  with  sometimes  sharp  and 
often  obtuse  points.  They  are  strongly  veined,  are  of  a fine  yellow- 
green  above,  pale  underneath,  inclining  in  the  mature  leaves  to  a 
grey  or  bluish-green,  and  are  reputed  to  possess  a deleterious  quality. 
The  flower  is  drooping,  mostly  of  the  size  represented  in  the  plate, 


Podophyll  um  peltatum . 


is 

consisting  of  three  deciduous  calix  leaves  (Fig.  8.)  and  from  six  to 
nine  white  petals,  delicately  reticulated  with  veins,  and  forming  a 
concave  flower.  The  pistil  is  somewhat  urceolate,  of  a yellowish 
colour  and  crowned  with  a crenate  stigma,  much  darker.  The  sta- 
mens arc  from  thirteen  to  twenty,  and  of  a yellow  colour.  The  fruit 
varies  much  in  size,  according  to  the  different  situations  in  which 
the  plant  may  have  grown.  Its  usual  size  is  that  represented  in  the 
figure,  or  of  a common  plumb,  but  I have  very  frequently  seen  it 
twice  as  large,  and  it  is  often  smaller.  It  is,  when  mature,  of  a le- 
mon-yellow colour,  slightly  maculated  with  round  brownish  dots, 
and  is  crowned  with  the  persistent  stigma.  It  consists  internally  of 
a delicate  pulp,  in  which  about  a dozen  seeds  are  immersed,  attach- 
ed by  umbilicate  fibres  to  the  receptacle,  which  is  situated  more  to 
one  side  than  the  other.  This  fruit  is  extremely  delicious  to  most 
persons,  and  to  many  quite  apperient;  it  may  be  eaten  in  consi- 
derable quantities  without  any  unpleasant  effect,  and  being  sub- 
acid and  grateful,  may  be  considered  healthful.  Schoepf  says,  the 
pigeons  of  Carolina  are  fattened  by  eating  it.  The  seeds  are  about 
twelve  in  number,  of  the  size  and  shape  represented  in  the  draw- 
ing, and  of  a light  yellowish  colour. 

This  plant  is  propagated  so  luxuriantly  by  the  creeping  of  its 
roots,  that  but  a small  proportion  of  the  flowers  produce  fruit; 
perhaps  not  more  than  one  in  forty  or  fifty;  so  that  it  is  not  un- 
common to  find  whole  patches  consisting  of  two  or  three  hundred 


Podophyllum  peltatum.  1 3 

plants,  with  scarcely  more  than  a couple  of  dozen  fruiting  speci- 
mens. 

The  May-apple  is  exclusively  a native  of  North  America;  and  is 
found  from  the  northern  to  the  southern  boundaries  of  the  United 
States,  in  great  profusion,  generally  inhabiting  moist,  rich,  and  shady 
woods,  though  not  unfrequently  met  with  in  open  or  exposed  situa- 
tions, as  well  as  often  by  the  edges  of  rivulets.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, to  delight  in  moist  soil,  being  always  most  luxuriant  in  humid 
places.  When  it  grows  in  low  and  very  wet  or  marshy  grounds,  the 
roots  become  larger  than  usual,  and  quite  succulent,  so  that  in  ex- 
siccation they  lose  more  than  half  their  diameter. 

Why  this  plant  has  received  the  name  of  May-apple,  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  conjecture,  since  it  only  commences  flowering,  at  least  in  the 
middle  and  northern  states,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  May, 
and  is  not  in  full  bloom  until  the  first  week  in  June.  Its  fruit  is  not 
mature  till  the  latter  part  of  September,  at  which  time  the  leaves 
have  become  faded  to  a yellow  colour,  or  have  entirely  fallen  off*. 
Then  is  the  proper  period  for  collecting  the  roots  for  medicinal 
uses ; they  should  be  dried  and  pulverized  for  use.  The  Indians 
dry  them  in  the  shade.  (For  Chemical  Analysis,  see  Appendix.) 


14 


Podophyllum  peltatum. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  root  of  the  May-apple,  exclusively,  is  used  in  medicine. 
There  is  no  indigenous  plant  whose  medicinal  virtues  are  better 
ascertained  at  present.  Its  proper  place  in  the  Materia  Medica, 
is  among  cathartics  ; and  it  may  be  ranked  among  the  most  safe  and 
active  of  this  class  of  medicines.  Schoepf  briefly  remarks  that  the 
root  is  emetic,  without  specifying  the  dose  which  produces  that  ef- 
fect ; and  Puihn  speaks  of  it  as  a powerful  emetic : “ Podophylli 
peltati  radix  valde  emetica  est.”*  Like  most  active  purgatives,  this 
medicine  will  occasionally  act  upon  the  stomach  ; and  I have  on  two 
occasions  found  large  doses,  to  produce  full  vomiting.  But  this  is 
certainly  not  the  usual,  or  conspicuous  effect  of  the  powder ; on  the 
contrary,  it  almost  always  acts  as  an  active  purgative.  In  an  exten- 
sive use  of  this  article  for  two  years  past,  I have,  with  the  exception 
of  the  two  instances  just  mentioned,  uniformly  found  it  to  affect  the 
bowels  ; and  I have  repeatedly  employed  it  alone  ; though  the  bet- 
ter mode  of  administering  it  is  in  conjunction  with  the  supertartrate 
of  potash,  calomel  or  rhubarb.  The  root  has  “ often  been  found 
to  operate  as  an  anthelmintic,  and  it  is  used  as  such  by  the  Cherokee 


# Materia  Yenenaria  Regni  vegetabilis. 


Podophyllum  peltatum. 


15 


and  other  southern  Indians.55*  Of  this  my  experience  affords 
neither  corroboration  nor  refutation  ,*  but  in  all  probability  the  plant 
is  destitute  of  any  specific  anthelmintic  virtue ; and  most  likely  ex- 
pels worms  as  calomel  and  many  active  purgatives  do.  The  late 
Dr.  Barton  tells  us  that  he  had  heard  much  of  the  virtue  of  an  ex- 
tract of  the  root  of  May-apple,  but  had  never  himself  used  it.  It  is 
reputed  to  have  been  found  highly  useful  as  a cathartic  in  colica 
pictonum.t  He  seemed  to  think  that,  as  a cathartic,  the  powder 
possessed  some  advantages  over  rhubarb  and  jalap ; he  does  not 
however  mention  in  what  respect  he  deemed  it  superior  or  prefer- 
able. My  impression,  from  an  impartial  administration  of  the 
powder,  in  repeated  trials,  is,  that  it  is  equal  to  the  common  jalap  of 
the  shops,  in  doses  of  the  proportion  of  a scruple  of  the  former,  to 
fifteen  or  eighteen  grains  of  the  latter ; and  in  this  it  seems  indeed 
to  be  preferable  to  the  jalap,  that  it  is  less  nauseous  to  irritable  sto- 
machs. Dr.  Barton  remarks,  “ that  Podophyllum  has  been  thought 
by  some  practitioners,  to  be  especially  adapted,  as  a purge,  to  cases 
of  intermittents,  remittents  and  dropsy;5’  and  concludes  by  ob- 
serving, that  he  “ believes  the  medicine  possesses  some  narcotic 
quality. 5 5J 


* Barton’s  Collections. 

f Barton’s  edition  of  Cullen’s  Materia  Medica,  vol.  2.  p.  375. 
i Ibid. 


(6 


Podophyllum  peltatum. 


TABLE  XXV. 


Fig.  1.  Represents  the  Podophyllum  peltatum  in  flower,  the  stem 
broken  from  Fig.  2.  at  the  mark.+ 

3.  The  lower  portion  of  the  stem  and  root  of  the  same. 

3.  The  mature  fruit  of  the  commonest  size. 

4.  A cross  section  of  the  same,  shewing  the  pulp  and  the  at- 

tachment of  the  seeds  to  the  receptacle. 

5.  A longitudinal  section  of  another  fruit,  which  shews  the  va- 

riation in  the  shape  of  the  apple,  and  gives  a different  view 
of  the  seeds. 

6.  A back  view  of  a seed. 

7.  A front  view  of  the  same. 

8.  A view  of  the  unexpanded  flower,  exhibiting  the  calix  before 

it  has  fallen. 


9.  A stamen. 


IP  ©ID ©IPWnHLiILUM^  JPElTiTATI'T/i . 

Mliv 


* 


HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS. 


YELLOW-ROOT. 

Germ.  Canadische  Hydrastis.  (Willd.) 

French.  Hydraste  de  Canada. 

Hydrastis  Canadensis.  L.  Sp.  PI.  784.  Mant.  408.  Hort.  Kew.  ii.  273.  Mill.  Pli.  ic. 
190.  t.  285.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  iii.  278.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  vii.  p. 
379.  Mich.  FI.  Am.  Boreal,  i.  317.  Pursh.  FI.  Am.  ii.  389.  Muhl.  Cat.  57. 
Willd.  Sp.  PI.  ii.  p.  1340.  Coxe’s  Disp.  ed.  3d.  374.  Dyckman’s  Ed.  Disp. 
416.  Barton’s  Collections,  ed.  3d.  par.  i.  p.  9.  par.  ii.  p.  13.  Bart.  Comp. 
FI.  Ph.  ii.  p.  22.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  p.  61.  Juss.  232.  Lamarck,  Diet.  v.  3. 
151.  lllustr.  t.  500.  Lin.  Gen.  PI.  283.  Schreb.  379.  Mart.  Mill.  Diet.  v.  2. 
Bart.  Elem.  Bot.  par.  3.  p.  70. 

HYDRASTIS. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  958. 

Hydrastis.  Cal.  0.  Petala  3.  Nedaria  0.  Bacca  composita  acinis  monospermis. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Ranunculacece.  Classis  XIII.  Ordo  I. 


VOL.  II. 


3 


K 

1 8 Hydrastis  Canadensis. 

Hydrastis,  L.  * Calix  0.  Petala  3.  Baccje  numerosse  minima1.  Caulis  alterne  2-phyl- 
lus,  foliis  palmatis ; flos  solitarius  terminalis ; fructus  et  habitus  Rubi  herbacei. 
Alb n is  Podophyllo,  sed  polygyna.  An  semini  perispennum  corneum  ? 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  232. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Multisiliqiice ? 

Classis  Polyandria.  Ordo  Polygynia.  Lin.  Syst. 

Gen.  Cli.  Cal.  Perianth  none.  Cor.  Petals  three,  ovate,  regular.  Stam.  Filaments  nu- 
merous, linear,  compi’essed,  a little  shorter  than  the  corolla;  anthers  com- 
pressed, obtuse.  Pist.  Germcns  numerous,  ovate,  forming  themselves  into  an 
ovate  head ; styles  very  short ; stigmas  broadish,  compressed.  Peric.  Berry 
composed  of  oblong  grains.  Seeds  solitary,  oblong. 

Ess.  Ch.  Calix  none.  Petals  three.  Nectary  none.  Berry  composed  of  single-seeded 
grains.  Ency. 

Hydrastis  Canadensis;  caule superne opposite  diphyllo;  foliis  petiolatis  basi  emargi- 
natis,  palmatis,  serratis,  ineisis;  pcdunculo  terminali  solitario  unifloro.* — 
Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Stem  above  oppositely  two-leaved  ; leaves  pctiolate,  emarginate  at  the  base,  pal- 
mate, serrate,  incised  ; pedmicle  terminal,  solitary,  one-flowered.  B. 


SYNONYMA. 

Warneba  Canadensis.  Mill. 

Hydroimiyulum  verum  Canadensium.  Sp.  PI.  1.  p.  146. 

PH  ARM. 

Hydrastis  Canadensis,  Radix. 

Among  the  numerous  distinguished  contributors  to  the  herbarium 
of  Linmeus,  was  the  industrious  Mr.  John  Ellis  ; and  to  him  we  are 
2 


% 


Hydrastis  Canadensis. 


19 


indebted  for  the  generic  name  Hydrastis,  and  the  first  description  of 
the  only  species  of  the  genus  yet  discovered.*  Linnaeus  seems, 
through  some  misapprehension  in  the  history  or  discovery  of  this 
plant,  or  some  confusion  relative  to  the  communication  of  it  by 
Mr.  Ellis,  to  have  supposed  that  his  friend  designed  to  commemorate 
“ a young  lady  of  noble  birth  other  botanists  have  thought  it  pro- 
bable,! that  the  name  had  a reference  to  the  natural  situation  of  the 
plant,  from  water,  or  »<$>£<*,  an  imbibing  of  water.  It  is  ex- 
tremely doubtful  whether  this  was  really  the  derivation  of  the  word ; 
for  the  plant,  as  far  as  any  thing  of  its  natural  history  is  known  to  me, 
is  neither  remarkable  for  imbibing,  nor  for  growing  in  the  vicinity 
of  water ; neither  does  it  appear  to  delight  in  a very  moist  soil,  for 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lancaster,  where  I have  met  with  the  greatest  abund- 
ance of  it,  and  where  it  grows  in  profusion,  it  is  confined  altogether 
to  shady  woods  of  rich  soil.  It  was  first  cultivated  in  England  by 
P.  Miller,  in  1759,  and  is  erroneously  there  called,  a bog-plant . 

The  root  consists  of  a tortuous  or  gibbous  caudex,  from  which 
proceed  a great  number  of  tolerably  large  fibrous  portions  ; all  of  a 
bright  yellow  colour,  but  the  fibres  rather  more  brilliant  than  the 

* I am  aware  that  Walter  has  described  a species  by  the  name  of  H.  Carolinensis, 
but  it  is  probably  nothing  more  than  a local  variety  of  this  one.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
has  introduced  it  in  his  catalogue  with  the  doubtful  mark. 

f Edit.  Article  Hydrastis.  Rees’s  Ency, 


20 


Hydrastis  Canadensis. 


main  root.  It  shrinks  considerably  in  drying,  often  losing  two- 
thirds  of  its  bulk.  The  stem  is  upright,  from  eight  to  twelve  inches 
high,  round  and  finely  pubescent  or  hairy,  especially  in  the  young 
state  of  the  plant.  It  is  terminated  by  two  leaves  of  unequal  size, 
beyond  the  smaller  of  which  the  peduncle  projects  to  the  length  of 
three  quarters  of  an  inch,  and  is  terminated  by  a single  three- 
petalled,  white  or  very  pale  rose-coloured  flower. 

The  leaves  are  petiolated,  emarginate  at  the  base,  palmate,  un- 
equally serrated,  three,  four,  or  five  lobed,  the  lobes  having  a smaller 
lobe  on  each  side.  The  leaves  are  at  first  small  during  the  flores- 
cence, but  afterwards  become  much  larger,  as  represented  in  the 
outline  (Fig.  2.)  When  the  plant  is  quite  advanced,  they  are  often 
even  larger  than  that  figure.  The  fruit  is  said  to  be  about  the  size 
of  a raspberry,  and  of  a bright  red  colour.  It  is  a compound  berry, 
consisting  of  a number  of  muricated  acini,  the  points  occasioned  by 
the  persistent  styles.  This  plant  is  in  flower  in  the  beginning  of 
May,  but  as  the  petals  are  fugacious,  it  is  seldom  seen  in  full 
florescence.  I have  not  myself  seen  it  except  just  after  the  petals 
had  fallen  ; in  consequence  of  which  I have  been  obliged  to  make 
the  drawing  of  the  petals,  from  a specimen  in  the  Muhlenbergian 
Herbarium.  Hydrastis  is  not  a very  common  plant,  except  westward 
of  the  Allegehany  mountains,  where  it  is  said  to  grow  in  profusion. 
It  is  however  sufficiently  abundant  in  the  woods  near  Lancaster,  in 
Pennsylvania.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  this  city,  it  is  very  rare.  1 


Hydrastis  Canadensis.  %i 

have  two  or  three  times  found  it  on  the  Wissahickon  creek,  near 
Germantown.  The  young  plants  which  appear  in  midsummer  have 
but  a single  leaf.  (For  the  Chemical  Analysis,  see  Appendix.) 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


The  medicinal  virtues  of  Hydrastis,  reside  in  the  root.  When 
dried,  it  has  a strong  and  somewhat  narcotic  smell,  and  it  is  exceed- 
ingly bitter.  Hence  spirituous  infusions  of  it  are  used,  and  recom- 
mended by  country  practitioners,  for  their  tonic  effect.  It  is  a com- 
mon practice  in  some  parts  of  our  country,  particularly  in  Kentucky, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  falls  of  Ohio,  to  use  a cold,  strained  infusion,  in 
inflammation  of  the  eyes.  This  fact  was  known  to  the  late  Pro- 
fessor Barton  who  has  mentioned  it  in  his  “ Collections  and  on 
his  authority  it  has  been  introduced  into  our  Dispensatories.  This 
plant  has  been  described  to  me  by  a gentleman  of  my  class  from 
Kentucky,  as  being  much  used  in  the  manner  just  mentioned.  The 
commendations  which  have  been  bestowed  on  yellow-root,  have, 
unfortunately,  not  been  confined,  as  perhaps  they  should  have  been, 
to  the  bitter-tonic  virtues  which  it  indubitably  possesses ; but  a mere 
supposition,  rather  inadvertently  thrown  out  by  the  late  Professor 
Barton,  that  “ the  Cherokee  Indians  employ  a plant  in  the  cure  of 
cancer,  which  is  thought  to  be  Hydrastis,”  has  caused  some  persons 


Hydrastis  Canadensis. 


.22 

to  attacii  to  its  other  medicinal  qualities,  the  questionable  power  of 
curing  or  alleviating  cancer ; and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
I)r.  Dyckman,  in  his  valuable  edition  of  the  Edinburg  Dispensatory, 
has  mentioned  cancer  as  one  of  the  diseases  for  which  Hydrastis  is 
a remedy.  It  is,  I believe,  not  to  be  doubted,  that  there  is  scarcely 
a plant  distinguished  for  any  medical  powers  that  is  not,  in  some 
part  oi’  other  of  our  country,  commended  by  the  vulgar,  as  a cancer- 
remedy.  The  almost  irremediate  nature  of  that  disease  by  any 
other  means  than  the  surgeon’s  knife,  is  the  obvious  cause  of  such 
perpetual  recurrence  to  a multitude  of  remedies,  which  have,  in  all 
probability,  no  other  claim  to  the  name  of  cancer-remedies,  than  that 
which  exists  in  the  imaginations  of  the  credulous  persons  who  em- 
ploy them,  and  whose  temerity  in  the  indiscriminate  use  of  active 
plants  in  the  treatment  of  this  disease,  is  unrestrained  by  that  fear, 
which  knowledge  inspires,  and  uncontrolled  by  a sense  of  the  dan- 
ger of  using  acrid  or  irritating  applications.  I have  made  some 
trials  with  the  pulverised  root  and  spirituous  tincture  of  Hydrastis ; 
and  these  sufficiently  justify  me  in  recommending  it  to  the  notice  of 
physicians  as  a strong  tonic  bitter.  Yet  I confess  myself  unwilling 
to  believe  that  the  plant  is  possessed  of  any  properties  sufficiently 
active,  or  of  such  a nature,  as  to  lead  to  any  reasonable  expectation 
of  being  serviceable  in  cancers  ; though  it  is  probable  enough  that  it 
is  one  of  the  numerous  vegetable  bases  of  the  many  quack  medicines 
for  this  disorder. 


7S*V.‘  26‘ 


Ft  a.  J . 


% 

Dtnurrt  /r\m,  VaSt/sr  6/l/FPi  'Jjar6sn 


I II YBHAOTI  s vjmimwpp . 

( Mlow  = IHooi  . ) 


Hydrastis  Canadensis. 


23 


(Economical  use. 


The  root  of  Hydrastis  affords  a juice  of  a brilliant  yellow  colour, 
which  has  been  employed  for  the  purpose  of  dyeing. 


TABLE  XXVI. 


Fig.  1.  Represents  a flowering  specimen  of  Hydrastis  Canadensis, 
about  the  usual  size  during  florescence. 

2.  The  size  of  the  leaves  when  the  plant  is  further  advanced 

and  in  fruit. 

3.  A petal. 

4.  A stamen,  a very  little  magnified. 

5.  Represents  the  immature  fruit  about  half  advanced  towards 

perfection,  and  about  one-third  of  the  size  of  the  full 
grown  berry.  I have  figured  it  in  this  imperfect  state, 
never  having  seen  the  mature  fruit. 


. 


' 


r 


- 

- 


* 


• - . 


. 

■ 


OROBANCHE  VIRGINIAN  A. 


CANCER-ROOT.  BEECH  DROPS. 

Virginian  Broom-rape. 

Germ.  Virginisclie  Sommerwurz.  (Willd.) 

Okobanche  Virginiana.  L.  Sp.  PL  882.  Walt.  167.  Gron.  Virg.  96.  Mor.  Hist.  ox. 
s.  12.  t.  16.  row.  1.  f.  9.  Stokes’s  Mat.  Med.  iii.  p.  408.  Schoepf.  101.  Coxe’s 
Disp.  ed.  3d.  p.  465.  Dyckman’s  Ed.  Disp.  418.  Barton’s  Collections,  ed.  3d. 
par.  2.  p.  6.  Mich.  FI.  Boreali-Am.  ii.  p.  26.  Pursh.  FI.  Am.  Sep.  ii.  p.  431. 
Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  ii.  p.  60.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  66.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  ii. 
p.  50.  Muhl.  Cat.  61.  Walt.  Carol.  167.  Raj.  Supp.  595.  Houttuyn.  Lin. 
Pfl.  Syst.  8.  p.  152.  Willd.  Sp . XI.  tom.  in.  par.  1.  p.  o50«  Xnn.  Gen.  321. 
Schreb.  421. 


OROBANCHE. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  1045. 

Cal.  2-4.  s.  5-fidus.  Cor.  ringens.  Caps.  1-locularis,  2-valvis,  polysperma.  Glandula 
sub  basi  germinis. 


YOL.  II. 


4 


26 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Peilicularcs.  Classis  VIII.  Ordo  II. 

Orobanche,  T.  L.  * Orobanche.  Calix  3-bracteatus,  nunc  tubulosus  5-fidus  insequalis, 
nunc  subnullus  bracteis  2 interioribus  latioribus  2-fidis  calicem  supplentibus. 
Corolla  tubulosa  ventricosa  irregularis  2-labiata,  supra  concava  emarginata, 
infra  reflex  a 3-fida  insequalis.  Stamina  4 didynama,  sub  labio  superiore.  Ger- 
mcn  basi  glandulosum;  stylus  1;  stigma  2-lobum.  Capsula  acuminata  1-locu- 
laris  2-valvis  polysperma,  singula  valva  medio  2-placentari  et  seminifera, 
seminibus  minutissimis.  Herbse  subcarnosse  rufescentes,  parasiticse  plantarum 
radicibus  innascentes ; radix  tuberosa,  squamis  imbricata ; caulis  alterne  squa- 
mulosus,  ssepe  simplex ; flores  bracteati,  spicati  terminales.  Species  qusedam 
scapo  nudo  1-floro,  flore  spathaceo  aflines  Lathrseis  1-floris.  Thunbergius 
Phelypece  nomine  describit  herbam  Orobanche  similem,  unicaulem,  aphyllam, 
squamulosam,  dioicam  apice  florentem,  calice  2-partito  bracteiformi,  corolla 
6-partita  connivente  ciliata  pilosa,  filamento  1-hypogyno,  anthera  clavata,  ger- 
mine  supero,  stylo  1,  stigmate  capitato,  capsula  columnari  7-valvi  7-loculari 
polysperma,  columna  intra  fructum  centrali : an  planta  vere  corollata,  aut 
vere  1-andra?  Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  101-2. 

Gen.  Ch.  Perianth  inferior,  of  two  leaves,  mostly  divided,  lateral,  sometimes  com- 
bined at  their  base,  erect,  coloured,  permanent.  Cor.  of  one  petal,  ringent, 
withering.  Tube  bending,  ample,  inflated.  Limb  spreading ; its  upper  lip  con- 
cave, dilated,  notched ; lower  reflexed,  three  cleft,  uneven  at  the  margin, 
notched,'  its  segments  various  in  size  and  proportion.  Nectary  a gland,  in 
front,  at  the  base  of  the  germen.  Stam.  Filaments  four,  awl-shaped,  conceal- 
ed under  the  upper  lip,  two  of  them  longest ; anthers  erect,  approximated, 
shorter  than  the  corolla,  tumid,  two-lobed,  and  acutely  awned.  Pist.  Germen 
superior,  oblong  ; style  simple,  the  length  and  position  of  the  stamens;  stigma 
drooping,  thick,  of  two  obtuse  lobes.  Peric.  Capsule  ovate-oblong,  pointed, 
of  one  cell  and  two  valves.  Seeds  numerous,  minute.  Receptacles  four,  linear, 
lateral,  attached  to  the  valves. 


Orobanche  Yirginiana. 


27 


Ess.  Ch.  Calix  of  two  natural  leaves.  Corolla  ringent.  Capsule  of  one  cell  and  two 
valves.  Seeds  numerous.  A gland  under  the  germen  in  front.  Ency. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Personatce. 

Classis  Didynamia.  Ordo  Jlngiospermia.  Lin.  Syst. 

Orobanche  Yirginiana ; caule  ramoso,  floribus  alternis  distantibus,  corollis  deciduis 
4-dentatis.  Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Stem  branched,  flowers  alternate,  distant,*  corollas  deciduous,  4-toothed. 


SYNONYMA. 

Orobanche  caule  ramoso,  floribus  distantibus.  Gron. 
O.  minor  Yirginiana  lignosior,  &c.  Morris. 
Epifagtts  Americanus.  Nutt. 

Epipagus  Virginianus.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph. 


PHARM. 

Orobanch.  Virg.  Radix  et  Herba. 

The  Cancer-root  is  a very  singular,  handsome,  and  interest- 
ing parasitic  plant.  It  belongs  to  a genus  which  is  the  o?*p*yx>1 
of  the  Greeks ; so  named  from  «;•£•{,  a vetch,  and  to  strangle , 
or  suffocate , because  the  species  of  the  genus  designated  by  this 
name  were  supposed  to  starve,  or  render  barren,  the  different  plants 
on  which  they  grow.  The  name  of  Broom-rape , by  which  all  the 
species  of  the  genus  are  designated  in  England,  was  given  in  conse- 


28 


Qrobanche  Virginiana. 

quence  of  the  Orobanche  having  been  originally  discovered  in  that 
country,  to  be  parasitic  on  the  broom. 

The  present  species  is  singular  in  its  liabit  and  structure,  and  in- 
teresting, because  of  the  agency  there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  it 
had  in  the  formation  of  a celebrated  cancer-powder.  The  whole 
plant  is  somewhat  fleshy ; it  is  herbaceous  and  wholly  without  ver- 
dure, or  even  any  approximation  to  that  common  hue  of  the  vegeta- 
ble creation.  It  is  frequently  altogether  of  a sickly  yellow  colour, 
but  most  commonly  is  of  a pale  pink,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of 
dark  purple,  white  and  yellow.  These  stripes  are  on  the  ridges  of 
the  stems  and  branches,  all  which  are  finely  furrowed.  The  root  is 
tuberous,  yellow,  carnose,  covered  with  short  convoluted  and  mat- 
ted fibres  on  its  lower  end,  and  interspersed  with  squamose  projec- 
tions towards  its  junction  with  the  stalk.  The  stem  is  glabrous, 
erect,  about  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  high,  much  branched  from  the 
base,  and  garnished  with  scattered,  short  ovate  scales  instead  of 
leaves,  of  which  it  is  entirely  destitute.  The  flowers  are  numerous, 
remote,  alternate,  and  situated  just  above  the  cauline  scales.  The 
calix  is  a short  membranaceous  cup,  with  five  vertical  acute  ribs 
projecting  above,  and  joined  together  by  their  crenate  margin.  The 
acute  points  of  those  projections  are  deep  purple,  inclining  to  crow- 
black.  The  corolla  of  the  fertile  or  fruiting  flowers,  is  small,  being 
in  reality,  little  else  than  a four-toothed  scale,  crowning  the  large 
and  rapidly  enlarging  germ,  after  the  manner  of  the  calyptra  of 


Orobanclie  Virginiana. 


29 


mosses.  This  corolla,  which  is  represented  by  the  beak-like  pro- 
cess in  (Fig.  5.)  is  extremely  deciduous,  owing  to  the  increase  in 
the  size  of  the  germs,  which  is  very  rapid,  as  well  as  to  their  oblique 
form.  The  later  and  infertile  flowers,  which  are  numerous,  and 
situated  towards  the  tops  or  extremities  of  the  branches,  are  about 
half  an  inch  long,  arcuate,  tubular,  compressed,  and  bilabiate : the 
upper  lip  is  somewhat  notched,  the  lower  three-toothed ; their  ca- 
lices  are  like  those  of  the  primary  or  fertile  flowers,  but  their  co- 
rollas are  of  a cream-white,  delicately  striped  with  rose-red,  and 
have,  on  close  inspection,  a very  beautiful  appearance.  The  pale 
yellow  specimens  are  generally  destitute  of  these  long  tubular 
flowers.  The  stamens  are  four  in  number,  rarely  exserted,  but 
have  no  attachment  to  the  corolla  ,•  they  are  furnished  with  smooth 
filaments,  crowned  with  small  globose  pubescent  anthers.  The 
style  is  simple  and  smooth.  The  capsule  which  opens  only  on  one 
side,  contains  an  immense  number  of  very  minute,  ovate,  yellowish- 
white  seeds,  resembling  coarse  meal. 

It  has  been  already  said,  that  this  is  a parasitic  plant,  and  it  is 
chiefly,  if  not  always  found  growing  on  the  roots  of  the  Beech, 
( Fagus  sylvatica , and  F.  feruginea .)  Hence  the  common  name 
Beech-drops , from  the  vulgar  notion,  that  as  the  plant  is  found  under 
the  shade  of  those  trees,  it  is  produced  by  some  kind  of  seed 
falling  from  them.  The  vulgar  name  cancer -root,  may  have  had  its 
origin  in  the  cancerous  like  structure,  if  I may  so  speak,  of  the  root,* 


30  Orobanche  Virginiana. 

or  perhaps  from  the  use  made  of  the  plant  in  the  treatment  of 
cancers. 

Mr.  Nuttall  says  this  plant  is  “ equally  indigenous  to  every  part 
of  North  America.’’  In  the  neighbourhood  of  this  city,  it  is  very 
abundant,  particularly  in  the  woods  above  the  falls  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill, on  the  west  side  ; where  it  covers  the  ground  for  rods  together. 
It  is  in  full  flower  in  those  situations,  about  the  tenth  of  September, 
at  which  time  it  should  be  gathered  for  medical  use.  (For  Chemical 
Analysis,  see  Appendix.) 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


The  cancer-root  is  now  introduced  into  all  our  dispensatories,  and 
has  obtained,  whether  deservedly  or  not.  I am  unable  from  any  ex- 
perience on  the  subject  to  say,  not  a little  reputation  as  a remedy 
for  cancer.  The  chief  claim  it  has  to  any  consideration  as  an  effica- 
cious application  to  cancerous  affections,  is  derived  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  been  collected  by  Dr.  Hugh  Martin,  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  for  the  purpose  of  mak- 
ing his  renowned  cancer-powder,*  a preparation  supposed  to  consist 


* See  Barton’s  Collections,  ed.  3d.  par.  2.  p.  8. 


Orobanche  Virginicma. 


31 


of  the  white  oxyd  of  arsenic*  and  this  vegetable  base.  On  this  subject 
the  late  Professor  Barton  has  made  these  observations : “ The  Oro- 

* Since  there  is  so  much  reason  to  believe  that  the  subject  of  tiiis  article  was  really 
the  vegetable  base  of  this  celebrated  powder,  it  may  be  useful  to  quote  Professor 
Rush’s  paper  on  the  subject,  at  length.  I do  this  the  more  willingly,  because  the 
transactions  of  the  Philosophical  Society  in  which  it  is  published,  are  not  very  ac- 
cessible to  most  persons. 

An  account  of  the  late  Dr.  Hugh  Martin’s  Cancer  Powder,  with  brief  observations 
on  cancers.  By  Benjamin  Rush,  M.  D.,  &c.  &c.  “ A few  years  ago  a certain  Dr. 

Hugh  Martin,  a surgeon  of  one  of  the  Pennsylvania  regiments  stationed  at  Fort  Pitt, 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  late  war,  came  to  this  city,  and  advertised  to  cure  cancers 
with  a medicine  which  he  said  he  had  discovered  in  the  woods,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  garrison.  As  Dr.  Martin  had  once  been  a pupil  of  mine,  I took  the  liberty  of  wait- 
ing upon  him,  and  asked  him  some  questions  respecting  his  discovery.  His  answers 
were  calculated  to  make  me  believe,  that  his  medicine  was  of  a vegetable  nature,  and 
that  it  was  originally  an  Indian  remedy.  He  shewed  me  some  of  the  medicine,  which 
appeared  to  be  the  powder  of  a well-dried  root  of  some  kind.  Anxious  to  see  the  success 
of  this  medicine  in  cancerous  sores,  I prevailed  upon  the  doctor  to  admit  me  to  see  him 
apply  it  in  two  or  three  cases.  I observed  in  some  instances,  lie  applied  a powder  to 
the  parts  affected,  and  in  others  only  touched  them  with  a feather  dipped  in  a liquid 
which  had  a white  sediment,  and  which  he  made  me  believe  was  the  vegetable  root  dif- 
fused in  water.  It  gave  me  great  pleasure  to  witness  the  efficacy  of  the  doctor’s  appli- 
cations. In  several  cancerous  ulcers,  the  cures  he  performed  were  complete.  Where 
the  cancers  were  much  connected  with  the  lymphatic  system,  or  accompanied  with  a 
scrophulous  habit  of  body,  his  medicine  always  failed,  and  in  some  instances  did  evi- 
dent mischief. 


32 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 

banche  has  been  supposed  by  many  persons,  to  have  formed  a part 
of  the  celebrated  cancer-powder  of  Dr.  Hugh  Martin,  whose  success 


“ Anxious  to  discover  a medicine  that  promised  relief  in  even  a few  cases  of  cancers, 
and  supposing  that  all  the  caustic  vegetables  were  nearly  alike,  1 applied  the  phyto- 
lacca  or  poke  root,  the  stramonium,  the  arum,  and  one  or  two  others,  to  foul  ulcers, 
in  hopes  of  seeing  the  same  effects  from  them  which  I had  seen  from  Dr.  Martin’s 
powder;  but  in  these  I was  disappointed.  They  gave  some  pain,  but  performed  no 
cures.  At  length  I was  furnished  by  a gentleman  from  Fort  Pitt  with  a powder  which 
[ had  no  doubt,  from  a variety  of  circumstances,  was  of  the  same  kind  as  that  used  by 
Dr.  Martin.  I applied  it  to  a fungous  ulcer,  but  without  producing  the  degrees  of 
pain,  inflammation,  or  discharge,  which  I had  been  accustomed  to  see  from  the  appli- 
cation of  Dr.  Martin’s  powder.  After  this,  I should  have  suspected  that  the  powder 
was  not  a simple  root,  had  not  the  doctor  continued  upon  all  occasions  to  assure  me 
that  it  was  wholly  a vegetable  preparation. 

“ In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1784  the  doctor  died,  and  it  was  generally  believed  that 
his  medicine  had  died  with  him.  A few  weeks  after  his  death,  I procured  from  Mr. 
Thomas  Leiper,  one  of  his  administrators,  a few  ounces  of  the  doctor’s  powder,  partly 
with  a view  of  applying  it  to  a cancerous  sore  which  then  offered,  and  partly  with  a 
view  of  examining  it  more  minutely  than  I had  been  able  to  do  during  the  doctor’s 
life.  Upon  throwing  the  powder,  which  was  of  a brown  colour,  upon  a piece  of  white 
paper,  I perceived  distinctly  a number  of  white  particles  scattered  through  it.  I sus- 
pected at  first  that  they  were  corrosive  sublimate:  but  the  usual  tests  of  that  metallic 
salt  soon  convinced  me  that  I was  mistaken.  Recollecting  that  arsenic  was  the  basis 
of  most  of  the  celebrated  cancer-powders  that  have  been  used  in  the  world,  I had  re- 
course to  the  tests  for  detecting  it.  Upon  sprinkling  a small  quantity  of  the  powder 
upon  some  coals  of  fire,  it  emitted  the  garlic  smell  so  perceptibly  as  tq  be  known  by 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


33 


in  the  management  of  many  cases  of  this  dreadful  disease,  has  been 
acknowledged  by  the  regular  practitioners  of  Philadelphia,  £$c. 

several  persons  whom  I called  into  the  room  where  I made  the  experiment,  and  who 
knew  nothing  of  the  object  of  my  enquiries.  After  this  with  some  difficulty  I picked 
out  about  three  or  four  grains  of  the  white  powder,  and  bound  them  between  two  pieces 
of  copper,  which  I threw  into  the  fire.  After  the  copper  pieces  became  red  hot,  I took 
them  out  of  the  fire,  and  when  they  had  cooled,  discovered  an  evident  whiteness  im- 
parted to  both  of  them.  One  of  the  pieces  afterwards  looked  like  dull  silver.  These 
two  tests  have  generally  been  thought  sufficient  to  distinguish  the  presence  of  arsenic 
in  any  bodies  ; but  I made  use  of  a third,  which  has  lately  been  communicated  to  the 
world  by  Mr.  Bergman,  and  which  is  supposed  to  be  in  all  cases  infallible. 

“ I infused  a small  quantity  of  the  powder  in  a solution  of  a vegetable  alkali  in  water 
for  a few  hours,  and  then  poured  it  upon  a solution  of  blue  vitriol  in  water.  The  colour 
of  the  vitriol  was  immediately  changed  to  a beautiful  green,  and  afterwards  pre- 
cipitated. 

«I  shall  close  this  paper  with  a few  remarks  upon  this  powder,  and  upon  the  cure  of 
cancers  and  foul  ulcers  of  all  kinds. 

“ 1.  The  use  of  caustics  in  cancers  and  foul  ulcers  is  very  ancient,  and  universal.  But 
I believe  arsenic  to  be  the  most  efficacious  of  any  that  has  ever  been  used.  It  is  the 
basis  of  Plunkett’s,  and  probably  of  Guy’s  well  known  cancer-powders.  The  great  art 
of  applying  it  successfully,  is  to  dilute  and  mix  it  in  such  a manner  as  to  mitigate 
the  violence  of  its  action.  Dr.  Martin’s  composition  was  happily  calculated  for  this 
purpose.  It  gave  less  pain  than  the  common  or  lunar  caustic.  It  excited  a moderate 
inflammation,  which  separated  the  morbid  from  the  sound  parts,  and  promoted  a plen- 
tiful afflux  of  humours  to  the  sore  during  its  application.  It  seldom  produced  an  escar; 
hence  it  insinuated  itself  into  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  cancers,  and  frequently  sepa- 


VOL.  II. 


5 


34 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


“As  early  as  4785,  at  which  time  I was  a student  of  medicine,  I 
was  informed,  by  the  people  inhabiting  the  western  parts  of  Penn- 
rated these  fibres  in  an  unbroken  state  which  are  generally  called  the  roots  of  the 
cancer.  Upon  this  account,  I think,  in  an  ulcerated  cancer  it  is  to  be  preferred  to  the 
knife.  It  has  no  action  upon  the  sound  skin.  This  Dr.  Hall  proved  by  confining  a 
small  quantity  of  it  upon  his  arm  for  many  hours.  In  those  cases  where  Dr.  Martin 
used  it  to  extract  cancerous  or  schirrous  tumours  that  were  not  ulcerated,  I have  rea- 
son to  believe  that  he  always  broke  the  skin  with  Spanish  flies. 

“ 2.  The  arsenic  used  by  the  doctor  was  the  pure  white  arsenic.  I should  suppose 
from  the  examination  I made  of  the  powder  with  the  eye,  that  the  proportion  of  ar- 
senic to  the  vegetable  powder,  could  not  be  more  than  one-fortieth  part  of  the  whole  com- 
pound. I have  reason  to  think  that  the  doctor  employed  different  vegetable  substances 
at  different  times.  The  vegetable  matter  with  which  the  arsenic  was  combined  in  the 
powder  which  I used  in  my  experiments,  was  probably  nothing  more  than  the  powder 
of  the  root  and  berries  of  the  solanum  lethale,  or  deadly  nightshade.  As  the  principal, 
and  perhaps  the  only  design  of  the  vegetable  addition  was  to  blunt  the  activity  of  the 
arsenic,  I should  suppose  that  the  same  proportion  of  common  wheat  flour  as  the  doctor 
used  of  his  caustic  vegetables,  would  answer  nearly  the  same  purpose.  In  those  cases 
where  the  doctor  applied  a feather  dipped  in  a liquid  to  the  sore  of  his  patient,  I have 
no  doubt  but  his  phial  contained  nothing  but  a weak  solution  of  arsenic  in  water.  This 
is  no  new  method  of  applying  arsenic  to  foul  ulcers.  Dr.  Way  of  Wilmington,  has 
spoken  in  the  highest  terms  to  me  of  a wash  for  foulnesses  on  the  skin,  as  well  as  old 
ulcers,  prepared  by  boiling  an  ounce  of  white  arsenic  in  two  quarts  of  water  to  three 
pints,  and  applying  it  once  or  twice  a day. 

« 3.  I mentioned  formerly  that  Dr.  Martin  was  often  unsuccessful  in  the  application 
of  his  powder.  This  was  occasioned  by  his  using  it  indiscriminately  in  all  cases.  In 

a 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


35 


sylvania  and  Virginia,  that  this  Orobanche  formed  the  principal  part, 
if  not  the  whole,  of  Martin’s  powder.  It  was  even  said,  that  Martin, 

schirrous  and  cancerous  tumours,  the  knife  should  always  be  preferred  to  the  caustic. 
In  cancerous  ulcers  attended  with  a scrophulous  or  a bad  habit  of  body,  such  particu- 
larly as  have  their  seat  in  the  neck,  in  the  breasts  of  females,  and  in  the  axillary  glands, 
it  can  only  protract  the  patient’s  misery.  Most  of  the  cancerous  sores  cured  by  Dr. 
Martin  were  seated  on  the  nose,  or  cheeks,  or  upon  the  surface  or  extremities  of  the 
body.  It  remains  yet  to  discover  a cure  for  cancers  that  taint  the  fluids,  or  infect  the 
whole  lymphatic  system.  This  cure  I apprehend  must  he  sought  for  in  diet,  or  iu  the 
long  use  of  some  internal  medicine. 

“To  pronounce  a disease  incurable,  is  often  to  render  it  so.  The  intermitting  fever, 
if  left  to  itself,  would  probably  prove  frequently,  and  perhaps  more  speedily  fatal  than 
cancers.  And  as  cancerous  tumours  and  sores  are  often  neglected,  or  treated  impro- 
perly by  injudicious  people,  from  an  apprehension  that  they  are  incurable,  (to  which 
the  frequent  advice  of  physicians  “ to  let  them  alone,”  has  no  doubt  contributed)  per- 
haps the  introduction  of  arsenic  into  regular  practice  as  a remedy  for  cancers,  may  in- 
vite to  a more  early  application  to  physicians,  and  thereby  prevent  the  deplorable  cases 
that  have  been  mentioned,  which  are  often  rendered  so  by  delay  or  unskilful  manage- 
ment. 

“ 4.  It  is  not  in  cancerous  sores  only  that  Dr.  Martin’s  powder  has  been  found  to  do 
service.  In  sores  of  all  kinds,  and  from  a variety  of  causes,  where  they  have  been  at- 
tended with  fungous  flesh  or  callous  edges,  I have  used  the  doctor’s  powder  with  ad- 
vantage. 

“ I flatter  myself  that  I shall  be  excused  in  giving  this  detail  of  a quack  medicine, 
when  the  society  reflect  that  it  was  from  the  inventions  and  temerity  of  quacks,  that 
physicians  have  derived  some  of  their  most  active  and  useful  medicines.”  Trans.  Amer. 
Phil.  Soc.  vol.  2.  p.  212. 


f 


36  Orobanche  Virgmiana. 

who  had  passed  some  time  at  Fort  Pitt,  was  known  to  have  collect- 
ed the  plant  for  the  purpose.  I believe  it  to  be  a fact  sufficiently 
established,  that  the  basis,  or  perhaps  rather  the  most  active  part, 
of  Martin’s  powder,  was  the  oxyd  of  arsenic.  This  has  been  shown 
by  a chemical  examination  of  the  powder,  and  by  other  circum- 
stances nearly  as  decisive.  Thus  comatose  affections,  such  as  are 
known  to  be  induced  by  arsenic,  have  been  induced  by  the  powder 
of  Martin,  even  when  externally  applied  in  cancerous  ulcers.  A case 
of  tliis  kind  came  under  the  notice  of  a physician  in  Philadelphia. 
The  patient  seemed  to  fall  a victim  to  the  application  of  the  medi- 
cine. 

“ But  the  powder  of  Martin  did  not  consist  entirely  of  the  oxyd  of 
arsenic.  This  is  certain.  I believe  it  to  be  certain  also,  that  he 
combined  with  the  arsenic,  a vegetable  matter;  and  from  what  has 
been  said,  it  would  seem  not  entirely  improbable,  that  this  vegetable 
was  the  Orobanche  Virginiana. 

“ It  may  be  said,  and  it  is  not  impossible,  that  Martin  added  the 
vegetable  matter  merely  to  disguise  the  arsenic,  reposing,  at  the 
same  time,  all  his  confidence  in  the  arsenic  alone.  I think  it  more 
probable,  however,  that  the  superior  efficacy  of  Martin’s  powder, 
and  of  the  powders  in  the  hands  of  other  empirical  practitioners, 
has  been,  in  part,  owing  to  tSie  addition  of  something  to  the  arsenic. 
If  there  be  no  foundation  for  this  suspicion,  how  has  it  happened, 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


37 


that  in  the  management  of  cancers,  the  empirical  practitioners  have 
often  succeeded  so  much  better  with  their  medicines  than  the  regu- 
lar physicians  have  done  ? Both  use  arsenic.  Some  of  the  cancer- 
powders,  employed  by  empirics,  in  Europe,  are  known  to  have  been 
composed,  in  part,  of  arsenic  and  a vegetable  matter.  The  cele- 
brated powder  of  Plumked  was  made  up  of  arsenic,  the  root  of  a 
species  of  Ranunculus,  or  Crow-foot,  and  sulphur. 

“ Whatever  may  have  been  the  vegetable  which  Martin  used  in 
combination  with  arsenic,  it  is  certain,  that  the  powder  of  the  Oro- 
banche, or  Cancer-root,  has  been  of  great  service  (in  Philadelphia, 
£$c.)  externally  applied  to  obstinate  ulcers,  some  of  which  had  re- 
sisted the  applications  that  are  commonly  made  use  of  in  such  cases. 
It  would  be  well  to  try  the  effects  of  this  vegetable  in  those  dreadful 
ulcerations,  by  some  writers  deemed  cancerous,  which  are  too 
frequently  the  consequence  of  the  use  of  mercury,  when  it  has  been 
given  in  large  quantity.  Cases  of  the  kind  I allude  to,  are  recorded 
by  Dr.  Donald  Monro,  Mr.  Adams,  in  a valuable  work,  and  other 
writers.  I have  had  occasion  to  see  some  ulcerations  of  the  same 
kind  in  Philadelphia.  They  often  refuse  to  yield  to  stimulating  or 
to  mild  applications. 

“ With  the  view  to  encourage  further  enquiry  into  the  nature  and 
properties  of  the  Orobanche  Virginiana,  I may  here  mention,  that 
one  of  the  European  species  of  this  genus,  the  Orobanche  major,  or 


38 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


Greater  Broom-rape,  is  a very  powerful  astringent,  and  is  said  to  have 
been  found  useful,  externally  applied,  in  cases  of  ulcers.  This  I men- 
tion on  the  respectable  authority  of  sir  John  Floyer.  The  activity  of 
the  European  plant  may  even  be  inferred  from  the  fact  mentioned 
bv  Schreber,  that  cattle  do  not  eat  it.”* 

It  would  seem  then,  that  the  cancer-root  is  an  active  vegetable, 
and  it  would  be  naturally  expected,  from  the  foregoing  account  of 
its  effects,  to  be  considerably  astringent.  This  is  the  fact,  and  its  as- 
tringency  is  very  perceptible  to  the  taste  in  the  recent,  and  in  the 
dry  plant.  When  fresh,  the  plant  is  also  bitter  and  nauseous  to  the 
taste ; exsiccation  seems  to  lessen  in  some  degree  its  sensible  pro- 
perties. 

Dr.  Barton  tells  us  “ it  has  been  celebrated  in  dysentery.’’  He 
does  not  mention  the  manner  nor  the  dose  in  which  it  has  been  ad- 
ministered in  that  complaint;  and  as  I have  never  administered  it 
myself  internally,  I am  not  prepared  to  offer  any  opinion  on  the 
subject. 

Upon  the  whole,  the  cancer-root  may  be  justly  said  to  have  a 
claim  to  the  attention  of  physicians  and  surgeons,  for  further  and 
more  extensive  trials  of  its  virtues  than  have  heretofore  been  made. 
(For  the  Chemical  Analysis,  see  Appendix.) 


* Barton’s  Collections,  ed.  3d.  par.  2.  p.  6. 


OJROBiWC  HE  VJI1R  G ITM  il  A MA . 

( ^anrci'-fool  . Be  cell- drops.  ) 


Orobanche  Virginiana. 


39 


TABLE  XXYII. 


Fig.  l.  Represents  the  upper  portion  of  a flowering  specimen  of 
Orobanche  Virginiana,  separated  from  the  thickest  stem 
of  No.  2. 

2.  The  root  and  lower  part  of  the  same. 

3.  A tubular  infertile  flower,  with  its  calix. 

4.  Calix,  stamens,  and  pistil. 

5.  A fertile  flower  with  the  gibbous  germ  full  of  immature 

seeds,  situated  in  the  calix. 


m . 

' 


ARISTOLOCHIA  SERPENT  ARIA, 


VIRGINIAN  SNAKE-ROOT. 


Snakeweed  Root.  Snake-root  Birthwort. 

Germ.  Die  Schlangenosterluzey,  die  Virginische  Schlangen  oder  Vipernwurzel.— > 
Arzeneykraftige  Osterluzey.  (Willd.) 

Dutch.  Slangenwortel,  Virginische  Slangenwortel. 

Danish.  Slangrod. 

Swedish.  Ormrot. 

French.  L’aristoloche  serpentaire,  vulg.  Serpentaire  ou  Coluvrine  de  Virginie. 
Portugu.  &c.  Serpentaria  de  Virginia. 

Aristoxochia  serpentaria.  L.  Sp.  PI.  1363.  Mat.  Med.  196.  Gron.  Virg.  140. 
Mill.  Diet.  n.  6.  Pluk.  Aim.  50.  t.  148.  f.  5.  Catesb.  Car.  1.  p.  29.  t.  29. 
Raj.  Suppl.  394.  Mor.  Hist.  3.  p.  510.  s.  12.  t.  17.  f.  14.  Pluk.  Aim.  50. 
t.  78.  f.  1.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  iv.  par.  1.  p.  159.  Walt.  Carol.  223.  Woodv. 
ii.  291.  t.  106.  Gron.  Virg.  ed.  1st.  112.  Park,  theatr.  420.  Ger.  by  Johns. 
848.  n.  6.  line  16th?  Bannister  in  Phil.  Trans.  Abr.  ii.  644.  Alst.  1.  520. 
Chaim.  1.  67.  149.  152.  155.  165.  186  ; ii.  6.  115.  167.  208.  Hume  in  Lett, 
and  Ess.  257.  Lew.  ii.  364.  Mead.  Mon.  ii.  90.  Ploucq.  Bibl.  1.  506.  516. 
Pott.  iii.  158.  Quarin.  Febr.  36.  69.  92.  121 ; animad.  176.  Smyth  Jail  Dist. 
VOL.  II.  6 


42 


Aristolochia  serpent  aria. 


121.  Stoll.  Med.  iii.  109.  Underw.  1.  77.  259.  Pharm.  Edin.  Hoven,  ac- 
count from,  in  Med.  Rev.  ii.  363.  Lew.  Disp.  by  Dune.  153.  Murr.  J.  i. 
1S4  ,•  ii.  69.  Pearson,  R.  i.  245  ; ii.  170  ; ed.  2d.  328.  Valentine,  account  from, 
in  Chir.  Rev.  xi.  240.  Pharm.  Lond.  Berg.  716.  Bruce  in  Lind.  Hot  Clim. 
254.  Cartheus.  iii.  68.  Cold,  in  Med.  Obs.  i.  221.  Cull.  ii.  85.  Dale  194. 
Douglas,  account  from,  in  Med.  Ess.  iv.  390.  Fuller.  Pharm.  75.  Geoffr.  ii. 
141.  Herm.  36.  Hill  61.  Hillary  Barb.  128.  165.  Lin.  235.  Mead.  Mon.  i.  33. 
46.  Mill.  Jos.  410.  Monro,  iii.  265  j Sold.  258.  Murr.  i.  348.  Robertson  Fev. 
375.  Rutty.  482.  Schoepf.  131.  Spielm.  297.  Stoll.  Med.  1.  8.  45.  54. 
apli.  n.  678.  Underw.  1.  94.  Vog.  211.  Wintringh.  in  Mead.  1.  223.  230. 
Pharm.  Austriaco.  Prov.  67.  Clark.  LongVoyag.  175.  261.  Hume,  in  Lett, 
and  Ess.  229.  Jackson  Jam.  236.  322.  333.  Lempr.  ii.  162.  174.  191,  192. 
Lind.  Hot.  Clim.  104  $ Seam.  202.  Moseley  162.  169.  222.  Pott  iii.  359. 
Pringle  274  j app.  108.  Lind.  Seam.  259.  Pringle  311.  Rush  v.  182. 
Bisset  Ess.  75.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  ii.  p.  275.  Barton’s  Collections,  3d. 
ed.  Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  201.  Thatcher’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  p.  151.  Pharm. 
Mass.  Med.  Soc.  7.  Barton’s  Cullen,  ii.  59,  60,  61.  Dyckman’s  Edin.  Disp. 
183.  Pursh.  FI.  Am.  Sep.  ii.  596.  Mich.  FI.  Boreali-Am.  ii.  162.  Miihl. 
Cat.  85.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  ii.  199.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  87.  Bart.  Comp. 
FI.  Ph.  ii.  146. 


ARISTOLOCHIA. 


Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  1383. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Aristolochice.  Classis  VI.  Ordo  I. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Sarmentacece. 

Artificial  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Gynandria.  Ordo  Hexandria. 

Cal.  none.  Cor.  1-petala,  ligulata,  basi  ventricosa.  Caps.  6-locularis,  polysperma  infera. 


2 


Aristolochia  serpentaria. 


43 


Aristolochia,  T.  L.*  Jlristoloche.  Calix  coloratus  tubulosus,  basi  ventricosus,  apice 
dilatatus,  in  ligulam  extensus,  antherse  6-subsessiles  sub-stigmate.  Stylus  sub- 
nullus ; stigma  6-partitum.  Capsula  6-gona,  6-locularis.  Caulis  erectus  aut 
volubilis ; folia  alterna ; Sores  axillares  ,•  tubus  quorumdam  scyphiformis  in- 
curvus.  Juss.  Gen,  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  73. 

Calix  none.  Corolla  of  one  petal,  ligulate,  with  a ventricose  base.  Capsule  six- 
celled,  many-seeded,  inferior. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  none.  Cor.  Monopetalous,  tubular,  irregular;  base  swelling,  subglo- 
bular,  tortulose  ; tube  oblong,  hexagon-cylindric ; limb  dilated,  extended  be- 
low into  a long  tongue.  Stain.  Filaments  none ; anthers  six,  fastened  at  the 
bottom  of  the  stigmas,  four-celled.  Fist.  Germ  oblong,  inferior,  angular; 
style  scarcely  any ; stigma  sub-globular,  six-parted,  concave.  Per.  Capsule 
large,  six-angled,  six-celled.  Seeds  several,  depressed,  incumbent.  Ency. 

Ess.  Gen.  Ch.  Stigmas  six.  Cal.  none.  Cor.  Monopetalous,  tongue-shaped,  entire. 
Caps,  six-celled,  inferior. 

Aristolochia  serpentaria : foliis  cordatis  oblongis,  acuminatis,  caule  flexuoso  ad- 
scendente,  pedunculis  radicalibus,  corollse  labio  lanceolato.  Willd. 

Leaves  cordate,  oblong,  acuminate ; stem  flexuous,  adscendent ; peduncles  radi- 
cal ; lip  of  the  corolla  lanceolate.  B. 


SYNONYMA. 


Aristolochia  pistolochia,  s.  serpentaria  Yirginiana,  caule  nodoso.  Pluk.  Catesb. 
Aristolochia  pistolochia,  caule  nodoso;  s.  serpentaria  Yirginiana.  Raj. 
Aristolochia  polyrhizos  Virginiana,  fructus  parvo  pentangulari.  Moris. 
Polvrhizos  Yirginiana.  Park. 

Pistolochia  Yirginiana.  Ger.  by  Johns,  (the  figure  is  A.  sempervirens.) 
Pistolochia,  or  Serpentaria  Virginiana.  Bannister. 


44 


Aristolochia  serpent  aria. 


Serpextaeia  Virginiana  of  some  Pharmacopoeias  and  medical  writers,  as  quoted  in 
the  list  of  references. 

Serpextaeia  Yirginica.  Pharm.  Austriaco.  prov. 

Snake-root  of  Clark,  Hume,  Jackson,  Lempr.,  Lind,  Moseley,  Pott,  Pringle,  &c.  &c. 
Virginian  Snake-root  of  Lind.  Seam.  259.  Pringle,  311.  Rush,  v.  182.  Underw. 
&c.  &c. 

Serpentary  of  Plane. 

Snakeweed-root  of  Bisset. 

Viperine  of  Chom. 


PHARM. 

Off.  The  root. 

Aristolochia:  serpentariae  Radix.  Ed. 
Serpentaria:  Radix.  Lond. 

Serpentaria:  Virginianae  Radix.  Dub. 


OFFICINAL  PREPARATIONS. 

Tinctura  Aristolochiae  serpentariae.  Edin.  Lond.  Dub. 
Tinctura  Cinchonae  compositae.  Lon.  Dub. 
Euectuarium  Opiatum.  Edin. 

Cataplasma  Cumini.  Lond. 


The  little  plant  which  is  the  subject  of  this  article,  is  well  known 
in  physic,  having  been  long  employed  by  practitioners  of  the 
healing  art  in  many  parts  of  the  world,  and  always  with  the  effect 


Aristolochia  serpentaria. 


45 


of  supporting  its  reputation  as  an  important,  active  and  useful 
medicine.  It  belongs  to  a genus  containing  about  forty-one  species, 
twenty  of  which  are  shrubby  and  indigenous  to  the  tropical  regions 
of  America.  One  of  these  is  described  by  Baron  Humboldt,  as 
growing  on  the  borders  of  Madalena,  which  produces  flowers  so 
large  as  to  afford  hats  for  children.  Several  species  are  endued 
with  medicinal  virtues,  but  none  in  so  remarkable  a degree  as  the 
present  one.  The  Aristolochia  rotunda,  A.  longa,  A.  Clematitis,  were 
formerly  admitted  into  the  Materia  Medica  of  the  British  pharma- 
copoeias ; and  the  last  is  still  retained  by  the  Edinburgh  College. 

The  generic  term  Aristolochia,  (Birthwort,)  is  derived  from  s, 
and  or  *«'*;*, *,  from  the  supposed  use  of  the  plants  it  comprises, 
in  disorders  attendant  on  parturition.  The  species  indigenous  to 
North  America,  according  to  Muhlenberg,  are  four  in  number,  A. 
sipho,  (broad-leaved  Birthwort,  or  Dutchman’s  pipe ;)  A.  serpentaria, 
(snake-root,)  A.  hirsuta  (hairy  Birthwort,)  and  A.  sagittata,  (arrow- 
leaved Birthwort.)  On  an  examination  of  the  specimens  of  these 
species  in  the  Muhlenbergian  Herbarium,  the  serpentaria , hirsuta 
and  sagittata , appeared  very  closely  allied;  and  on  tasting  and 
smelling  the  roots  I could  perceive  no  difference  in  their  sensible 
properties.  The  A.  hirsuta,  is  the  tomentosa  of  Mr.  Nuttall ; and  the 
A.  sagittata,  of  which  I have  given  an  outline  figure  of  two  leaves 
from  different  specimens,  (Fig.  6,  7 ) is  the  hastata  of  Mr.  Nuttall. 
This  is  hardly  a distinct  species,  unless  there  be  some  well  marked 
discrepancy  in  the  flowers. 


*16 


Anstolochia  serpentaria. 


The  most  common  species  in  the  United  States,  is  the  serpentaria. 
It  has  a perennial  root,  consisting  of  very  numerous  small  fibres, 
proceeding  from  a short  gibbous  caudex.  The  small  roots  are  of  a 
yellow  ochre  colour,  and  become  deep  brown  or  black,  on  drying. 
The  thick  and  knotty  portion  of  the  root  is  brown.  The  stems  are 
slender,  round,  weak,  flexuose,  from  eight  to  ten  inches  high,  and 
jointed  at  irregular  distances.  The  upper  portion  is  yellowish,  the 
lower  purple. 

The  leaves  are  lanceolate-cordate,  entire,  acuminate,  of  a yellow- 
green  colour,  and  have  short  petioles.  The  flowers  are  solitary,  and 
consist  of  a monopetalous,  brownish  purple,  tubular  and  irregular 
corolla,  without  any  calix.  The  peduncles  which  are  slender,  round, 
and  jointed,  and  occasionally  garnished  with  a scale  or  two,  are  radi- 
cal or  nearly  so,  and  so  arcuate  as  to  bury  the  flower  for  the  most  part 
beneath  the  earth  or  dead  leaves  near  the  roots.  The  filaments  are 
wanting,  and  the  six  anthers  are  attached  to  the  stigma,  which  is 
nearly  globular.  The  hexagonal  capsule  is  dark  brown,  and  consists  of 
six  cells,  which  contain  several  minute  flat  seeds.  This  plant  flowers 
in  May  and  June,  and  ripens  its  seeds  by  the  last  of  September. 
It  inhabits  rich  shady  woods  from  New  England  to  Carolina,  and 
Pursh  says  it  is  particularly  abundant  in  the  mountains.  In  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  this  city  it  is  not  common ; it  is  however  found  in 
some  of  our  woods,  both  on  the  east  and  west  side  of  the  Dela- 


ware. 


Aristolochia  serpentaria. 


4r 


CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS. 


“ Snake-root  has  an  aromatic  smell,  approaching  to  that  of  valerian, 
but  more  agreeable,  and  a warm,  bitterish  pungent  taste,  which  is  not 
easily  concealed  or  overpowered  by  a large  admixture  of  other  ma- 
terials. It  gives  out  its  active  matter  both  to  water  and  rectified  spirit, 
and  tinges  the  former  of  a deep  brown,  the  latter  of  an  orange  co- 
lour. Greatest  part  of  its  smell  and  flavour  is  carried  oft'  in  evapo- 
ration or  distillation  by  both  menstrua : along  with  water  there  arises, 
if  the  quantity  of  the  root  submitted  to  the  operation  be  large,  a 
small  portion  of  pale-coloured  essential  oil,  of  a considerable  smell, 
but  no  very  strong  taste,  greatest  part  of  the  camphorated  pungency, 
as  well  as  bitterness  of  the  root,  remaining  in  the  inspissated  extract. 
The  spirituous  extract  is  stronger  than  the  watery : not  so  much 
from  its  having  lost  less  in  the  evaporation,  as  from  its  containing 
the  active  parts  of  the  root  concentrated  into  a smaller  volume ; its 
quantity  amounting  only  to  about  one-half  of  that  of  the  other.’’* 

“ Treated  with  alcohol  it  affords  a bright  green  tincture,  which 
is  rendered  turbid  by  water ; by  filtration  a small  portion  of  green 
matter  is  separated,  but  its  transparency  is  not  restored.  It  neither 


* Lewis,  M.  M.  p.  602, 


48 


Aristolochia  serpentaria. 


precipitates  tannin  nor  gelatin,  nor  affects  the  salts  of  iron  or  tinc- 
ture of  turnsole.  When  the  diluted  tincture  is  distilled,  the  spirit  and 
tincture  pass  over  milky,  strongly  impregnated  with  its  peculiar 
flavour.”* 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


It  is  remarkable  that  the  snake-root,  which  is  so  deservedly  es- 
teemed as  a medicine,  has  no  reputation  among  regular  practitioners 
as  a remedy  for  those  affections  for  which  it  was  first  brought 
into  notice.  It  is  now  universally  acknowledged  to  be  useful  in  cer- 
tain diseases,  for  which  it  was  not  thought  of  as  a remedy,  until  a 
considerable  period  subsequent  to  its  introduction  into  medical  prac- 
tice. 

In  1635,  Dr.  J.  Cornutus  published  at  Paris,  a work  entitled  “ Cana- 
densium  plantarum,  aliarumque  nondum  editarum,  Historia  and  in 
that  book  noticed  the  serpentaria  under  the  name  of  Radix  Sanagroel 
Noth*  Anglise,  and  extolled  it  as  an  effectual  remedy  for  the  bites  of 
the  most  poisonous  serpents. f The  ancient  and  now  exploded  doc- 

* Edin.  Disp. 
f M.  M.  vol.  1.  p.  521. 


Aristolochia  serpentaria. 


49 


trine,  that  the  morbific  matter  of  malignant  fevers  was  analogous  to 
the  poison  of  serpents,  and  that  its  influence  on  the  human  system 
might  be  obviated  by  the  same  means,  led  to  the  employment  of  the 
snake-root  in  all  fevers  of  a malignant  type.*  In  accordance  with 
those  notions,  this  plant  was  considered  the  most  powerful  of  the  me- 
dicines termed  alexipharmics,  or  antidotes  to  poisons.f  But  this  prac- 
tice, originating  in  the  erroneous  ideas  of  the  old  physicians,  was  not 
without  its  usefulness.  The  employment  of  snake-root  in  malignant 
fevers,  led  to  its  more  general  use  in  fevers  of  another  kind ; and  it 
was  not  long  before,  by  the  united  consent  of  the  medical  world, 
this  plant  was  acknowledged  to  be  a powerful  diaphoretic  stimulant 
and  tonic ; and  peculiarly  suited,  from  the  antiseptic  virtue  which  it  is 
generally  believed  to  possess,  to  such  cases  of  disease  as  required 
powerful  remedies  endued  with  such  properties.  The  high  authority 
of  Lind,  Huxham,  Hillary,  Lysons,  Monro,  Cullen,  Rush,  and  others, 
is  not  wanting  to  support  the  claim  of  serpentaiia  to  a distin- 
guished rank  in  the  Materia  Medica.  It  has  been  recommended  to  be 
used  in  combination  with  Peruvian  bark,  in  intermittent  and  con- 
tinued fevers;  and  the  bark  has  been  found  more  efficacious  when 
thus  used  in  union  with  the  serpentaria,  than  when  employed  alone.J 
It  should  be  recollected,  that  the  medical  powers  of  this  plant  depend 

* Woodville  Med.  Bot.  vol.  2.  p.  292. 

f Ibid. 

t Woodville  and  Lysons’  Practical  Essays  upon  Intermitting  Fevers,  p.  13. 

7 


yol.  ii. 


50 


. iristolochia  serpentaria. 


chiefly  on  an  essential  oil,  which  it  abundantly  yields ; and  as  this, 
like  most  other  essential  oils,  is  heating  and  stimulating,  the  snake- 
root,  consequently,  cannot  be  safely  administered  when  the  pulse  de- 
mands blood-letting.  But  in  the  secondary  stage  of  fevers,  or  after 
the  inflammatory  action  has  subsided  or  been  subdued ; and  espe- 
cially when  the  skin  is  obstinately  dry,  the  paroxysms  not  termi- 
nating by  sweat,  then  the  serpentaria  may  be  used  with  much 
advantage.  It  produces  an  immediate  action  on  the  skin,  and  is 
gently  diuretic.  During  a very  extensive  practice  in  Norfolk,  Virginia, 
in  the  years  1809  and  1810,  while  surgeon  of  the  frigate  United  States, 
I had  many  opportunities  of  witnessing  the  efficacy  of  the  serpentaria 
in  cases  similar  to  those  above  described,  as  well  as  in  typhus  fever. 
The  sick  lists  were  daily  crowded  with  cases  of  fever  incident  to  that 
climate,  and  arising  from  the  exposure  of  the  crew;  and  at  one  time 
they  contained  cases  of  typhus  to  the  daily  number  of  from  twenty  to 
forty  for  a month  or  six  weeks  together.  It  was  my  constant  practice 
to  use  the  serpentaria  in  those  fevers,  in  various  ways,  as  tincture, 
(the  officinal,)  in  substance,  and  in  union  with  camphor  and  Peru- 
vian bark.  In  no  instance  had  I reason  to  be  dissatisfied  with  this 
practice,  to  which  I have  adhered  in  a multitude  of  similar  cases 
since  that  time,  with  the  same  beneficial  effect.  While  I was  attend- 
ing physician  of  the  army  in  the  fourth  military  district,  during  the 
late  war,  the  hospital  for  recruits,  and  the  lazaretto  hospital,  where 
I also  prescribed,  were  continually  crowded  with  cases  of  pneumonia 
typhoides.  Many  of  the  subjects  of  this  disease,  were  afflicted  with 


2 


Avistolochia  serpentaria. 


51 


unusual  malignant  symptoms,  and  great  tendency  to  rapid  prostra- 
tion of  the  system.  Encouraged  by  my  former  success,  I used  the 
serpentaria  still  more  extensively,  often  alone,  but  most  commonly 
with  camphor,  polygala  senega  and  Peruvian  bark.  In  some  in- 
stances, the  malignity  of  the  disease  made  rapid  strides  to  dissolu- 
tion; but  in  not  a few  I had  every  reason  to  believe  the  use  of  the 
snake-root  had  been  of  infinite  service,  particularly  in  relieving 
bilious  vomiting.  Upon  the  whole,  I am  inclined  to  think  that  the 
serpentaria  is  entitled  to  a much  more  general  use  in  our  fevers 
with  putrid  tendency,  than  is  usual.  Throughout  the  United  States, 
the  country  practitioners  are  much  more  in  the  habit  of  prescribing 
it  in  autumnal  and  other  fevers,  than  the  physicians  of  large  cities, 
but  as  their  voices  are  united  in  favour  of  the  success  of  that  prac- 
tice, it  would  be  well  if  it  were  more  commonly  imitated.  The  anti- 
septic virtues  of  serpentaria  have  led  to  its  use  in  gangrene;  and  it 
is  often  externally  applied  as  a gargle  in  putrid  sore  throat.  It  has 
been  found  serviceable  in  dyspepsia,  and  has  been  known  to  remove 
the  disease  in  a short  time,  and  remarkably  to  renovate  and  strength- 
en the  lost  tone  of  the  stomach.  It  has  also  been  recommended  in 
exanthematous  diseases,  when  the  fever  is  of  the  typhoid  type,  to 
support  the  action  of  the  skin,  and  keep  out  the  eruption.  I have 
known  it  used  in  tincture,  on  the  borders  of  York  and  Elizabeth  rivers, 
in  Virginia,  as  a prophylactic  against  agues. 


52 


Aristolochia  serpentana. 


TABLE  XXYIII. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  the  Aristolochia  serpentaria  in  flower,  of  the  na- 
tural and  common  size. 

2.  A section  of  the  corolla,  with  the  germ. 

3.  The  capsule. 

4.  A seed. 

5.  The  reverse  of  the  same. 

6.  A leaf  of  the  variety  in  the  Muhlenbergian  Herbarium. 


7.  Another  leaf  from  a different  specimen  in  the  same. 


■- 

{ ^igtalaa  Sipakfl^'-'-  '1 


Jw.3 


--  "5  ' "7 
/ 


J 

Tanntri  T TaRanttlSharny  & Co. sc 


Fid  A.  Rq  6 

1 f 


Ro.Z 


BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA. 


WILD  INDIGO. 


Indigo-weed.  Horse-fly- weed.  Broom. 

Germ.  Farbende  Podalyria.  (Willd.) 

Baptisia  tinctoria.  L.  Sp.  PI.  534.  Mant.  377.  Mill.  Diet.  3.  Lamarck  Illustr.  Gen. 
t.  327.  f.  1.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  6.  p.  500.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  ii.  par.  1. 
p.  503.  a.  Murr.  391.  Hort.  Kew.  ii.  534.  Gron.  Virg.  64.  Pluk.  Aim.  129 ; 
Phyt.  t.  86.  f.  2.  Ehret.  t.  1.  f.  3.  Schoepf  63.  Cutler  473.  Mich.  FI.  Boreali- 
Ara.  i.  265.  Pursli  FI.  Am.  Sep.  i.  308.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  i.  281.  Muhl.  Cat. 
42.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  48.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i.  206.  Big.  Florula  Bost. 
104.  Thacher’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  360.  Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  567.  Brown  in  Hort. 
Kew.  vol.  3.  p.  5.  Bot.  Mag.  1099.  Woodville  Med.  Bot.  ii.  292.  Dyck.  Ed. 
Disp.  382.  Comstock  in  Eclec.  Rep.  vol.  6. 

BAPTISIA. 

Ventexaxt.  R.  Brown. 

Pouaeyria.  Michaux,  Lamarck. 

Sophora.  Lin. 


54 


Baptism  tinctoria. 


Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Leguminoscv.  Classis  XIV.  OrdoXI. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Papiliomcece. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Decandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Calix  half  4 or  5-deft,  bilabiate.  Corolla  papilionaceous,  petals  nearly  equal  in  length; 
vexilluin  laterally  reflected.  Stamina  deciduous.  Legume  ventricosc,  pedicellate, 
many-seeded. — Brown  Hort.  Kew.  3.  p.  5. 

Baptisia  tinctoria;  glaberrima,  ramosissima,  microphylla;  foliis  ternatis  subsessili- 
bus,  foliis  cuneato-obovatis  rotundato-obtusis,  stipulis  obsoletis  oblongis  acutis 
petiolo  multoties  brevioribus,  racemis  spicatis  terminalibus;  leguminibus  ovatis 
longo-stipitatis. — Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Very  glabrous  and  much  branched,  small-leaved;  leaves  ternate,  subsessile, 
folioles  cuneate-obovate,  round,  obtuse;  stipules  obsolete,  oblong-acute,  much 
shorter  than  the  petiole;  racemes  spiked,  terminal;  legumes  ovate,  on  long 
footstalks. — Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph. 

SYNONYMA. 

Sophora  tinctoria.  Sp.  PI.  534. 

Podaltria  tinctoria.  Mich.,  Lam.,  and  Wild. 

PHARM. 

Baptists;  tinctorise,  Radix  et  Herba. 

The  subject  of  this  article  was  originally  referred  by  Linn  te  us  to 
tbe  extensive  genus  Sophora.  Michaux,  Lamarck,  Willdenow,  and 
others,  assigned  it  a place  under  the  genus  Podalyria:  and  more  re- 
cently it  has  been  placed  by  Brown  and  Ventenant,  as  a species  of 


Baptisia  linctoria. 


55 


Baptisia.  The  latter  name  is  given  here,  because  it  more  properly 
belongs  to  the  genus  it  designates,  than  to  either  of  the  other  two. 
This  fine,  luxuriant,  bushy  plant  is  a native  of  North  America,  and 
is  almost  universally  known  by  the  English  name  at  the  head  of 
tills  chapter. 

The  root  is  perennial,  large,  ligneous,  irregularly  shaped,  of  a 
bistre  colour,  inclining  to  black  externally,  and  yellowish  within. 
The  radicles  proceeding  from  the  main  root,  which  is  occasionally 
ramified,  are  numerous,  and  of  a lighter  colour  than  the  caudex. 
The  stalks  are  two  or  three  feet  high,  round,  yellowish-green, 
smooth,  and  covered  with  an  infinite  number  of  black  dots.  They 
are  much  ramified,  and  become  more  yellow  towards  their  extre- 
mities. The  leaves  are  small,  seldom  larger  than  the  thumb-nail, 
ternate,  cuneate-cordate,  nearly  sessile,  and  of  a deep  indigo-bluish- 
green.  The  stipules  are  very  minute  and  evanescent.  The  flowers 
are  gamboge-yellow,  becoming  black,  (as  indeed  the  whole  plant  does 
upon  drying,)  after  being  plucked,  or  sometimes  even  while  they  re- 
main on  the  bush,  after  bloom.  They  are  numerous,  and  situated  in 
loose  spikes  on  the  extremities  of  the  branches,  and  are  supported 
by  slender  peduncles.  ’I  he  seed-vessel  is  an  inflated,  oblong  pod,  of 
the  same  bluish  hue  as  the  mature  leaves,  inclining  to  crow-black. 
The  period  of  flowering  is  from  the  beginning  of  July  to  the  middle 
and  last  of  August. 


5 6 


Baptisia  tindona. 


Wild  indigo  is  a common  plant  in  the  United  States,  being  found 
in  every  state  of  the  union.  It  promiscuously  inhabits  a variety  of 
situations,  though  almost  always  in  a dry  soil.  It  seems  to  prefer  the 
borders  of  dry  hilly  woods,  being  found  in  most  abundance  in  such 
places  ; yet  the  borders  of  thickets,  and  the  edges  of  cultivated  fields, 
are  frequently  decorated  by  the  numerous  gay  flowers  of  this  pretty 
plant.  It  is  seldom  seen  in  moist  situations  ; though  on  the  edges  of 
low  woods  in  Jersey,  and  sometimes  in  the  marshy  thickets  it  is  met 
with  : and  it  must  be  acknowledged,  that  in  these  situations  it  does  not 
appear  to  deteriorate ; so  that  I fancy  it  possesses  a flexible  constitu- 
tion, enabling  it  to  accommodate  itself  with  facility,  to  many  scites 
widely  discrepant  in  the  nature  and  effect  of  their  peculiar  soils. 


MEDICINAL,  PROPERTIES. 

Both  the  root  and  plant  may  be  used  for  medical  purposes.  The 
former  has  no  smell,  but  is  subacrid  and  a little  nauseous  to  the  taste. 
This  remark  applies  only  to  the  bark  of  the  root,  which  is  thick. 
Though  wild  indigo  is  manifestly  an  active  plant,  it  has  excited, 
hitherto,  comparatively,  little  attention  among  any  other  than  empi- 
rical practitioners;  but  among  the  latter  I am  strongly  inclined  to 
suspect  it  is  very  generally  used.  It  has  happened  to  me  on  several 


Baptisia  tinctoria. 


57 


occasions  during  ray  herborizing  excursions,  to  meet  with  negroes 
and  others,  collecting  large  quantities  of  this  plant,  which  they  always 
spoke  of  by  the  name  of  wild  indigo.  My  enquiries  of  these  people, 
who  in  every  instance,  except  one,  were  collecting  for  other  per- 
sons, convinced  me  the  search  for  the  plant  was  for  medical  purposes. 
It  does  not,  however,  appear  likely,  that  in  any  other  way  than  as  an 
external  application,  the  Baptisia  will  become  useful  in  medicine.  I 
am  inclined  to  offer  this  opinion,  from  my  own  trials  with  it,  and 
those  of  other  persons.  Yet,  as  an  external  remedy  in  certain  affec- 
tions presently  to  be  mentioned,  it  is  far  from  being  devoid  of  use- 
fulness ; and  I here  present  it  to  the  notice  of  physicians,  as  an  anti- 
septic and  sub  astringent  plant,  capable  of  correcting  the  vitiated  dis- 
charges of  foul  and  gangrenous  ulcers  ,*  and  checking  the  progress, 
perhaps,  of  mortification,  when  used  simultaneously  with  the  internal 
administration  of  Peruvian  bark.  The  cathartic  and  emetic  effect 
which  has  occasionally  followed  its  use  in  large  quantities,  should,  I 
think,  be  disregarded  as  far  as  any  benefit  may  be  expected  from 
their  effects  ; neither  do  I believe  the  diaphoretic  effect  which  has 
supervened  upon  the  free  use  of  the  decoction  and  infusion,  in  my 
own  hands,  and  in  the  trials  made  by  others,  is  entitled  to  any  atten- 
tion because,  like  its  purgative  and  emetic  effect,  it  only  followed 
the  use  of  the  article,  pushed  to  considerable  and  inconvenient  ex- 
tent. It  is  also  slightly  stimulant,  both  in  the  powder  and  in  the  de- 
coction of  the  root,  but  probably  not  more  so,  than  any  active  sub- 
stance introduced  into  the  stomach. 


VOL.  II. 


8 


5S 


Baptism  tinctoria. 


After  premising  these  cautionary  remarks,  I shall  notice  the  extent 
of  the  information  relative  to  the  medical  powers  of  this  plant,  as  con- 
tained in  the  only  two  publications  of  any  claim  to  authority,  that 
have  met  my  eyes  ; the  Dispensatory  of  Dr.  Thacher  of  Plymouth, 
(New  Eng  ) and  a paper  by  Dr.  Comstock,  published  in  the  Eclectic 
Repertory.  To  these  gentlemen,  confessedly,  is  due  the  credit  of 
bringing  this  plant  into  notice,  which  will  sufficiently  excuse  my  giv- 
ing in  their  own  language  the  result  of  their  experience.  “In  the 
hands  of  some  physicians,”  says  Dr.  Thacher,  “ it  is  found  to  operate 
in  a large  dose,  with  much  severity  as  an  emetic  and  cathartic.  But 
a weak  decoction  of  the  root  has  frequently  been  given  with  the  ef- 
fect only  of  a mild  laxative.  A decoction  of  the  bark  of  the  root  has, 
it  is  said,  been  made  known  by  an  empiric  experienced  in  its  use,  as 
a remedy  in  scarlatina  anginosa  ; and  its  employment  has  been  ex- 
tended in  a few  instances  to  typhus  or  putrid  fever  with  such  good 
effect  as  to  encourage  further  trials.  An  experienced  physician  con- 
siders it  as  an  excellent  antiseptic  and  febrifuge,  preferring  it  in  some 
fevers  to  Peruvian  bark.  As  an  external  application,  its  antiseptic 
qualities  ought  to  be  more  extensively  known.  In  the  form  of  fomen- 
tation or  cataplasm  it  has  proved  eminently  beneficial  when  applied 
to  phagedenic  and  gangrenous  ulcers,  especially  if  the  decoction  be 
administered  internally  at  the  same  time. 

“ Some  experiments  have  been  made  with  the  pulverized  root  in 
closes  of  twenty  to  thirty  grains,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  its 
s 


j Baptisia  tmctoria. 


59 


emetic  and  cathartic  powers,  but  without  a very  favourable  result. 
It  appears  to  possess  valuable  antiseptic  properties,  as  an  external 
application  to  vitiated  ulcers  of  almost  every  description ; an  infu- 
sion of  the  root  has  surpassed  in  efficacy  any  other  remedy  which  I 
have  ever  employed.  In  aphthous  and  other  ulcers  of  the  mouth, 
sore  nipples,  chronic  sore  eyes,  and  in  various  painful  ulcers,  dis- 
charging acrid  matter,  the  assuaging  and  healing  qualities  of  an  infu- 
sion of  wild  indigo  root  has  answered  every  expectation  in  practice. 
Impressed  with  the  assurance  of  its  great  utility,  and  solicitous  to  dif- 
fuse an  experimental  knowledge  of  it  more  extensively,  I was  in- 
duced to  furnish  several  medical  friends  in  Boston  with  the  root,  to 
be  used  in  the  marine  hospital  and  in  the  almshouse,  particularly  in 
cases  of  syphilitic  ulcers ; nor  has  the  result  disappointed  my  san- 
guine expectations.  In  their  hands  it  has  proved  extremely  beneficial 
when  applied  to  venereal  ulcers,  mercurial  sore  mouth,  and  other 
ulcerous  affections.  In  malignant  ulcerous  sore  throat,  no  opportu- 
nity has  presented  for  trial,  but  the  happiest  effects  are  anticipated  in 
that  disease,  as  well  as  others  of  a putrid  nature.  An  ointment  may 
be  made  by  simmering  the  fresh  root  in  hogs  lard,  or  in  cream,  to  be 
applied  to  burns  and  ulcers.  The  virtues  of  the  root  appear  to  be  con- 
siderably diminished  by  long  keeping.”* 

Dr.  Comstock,  of  Rhode  Island,  has  had  considerable  experience 
with  this  article,  and  he  details-}-  an  instance  of  its  successful  exhibition, 

* Thach.  Disp.  p.  361. 

t Eclectic  Repertory,  vol.  6. 


60 


Baptism  tinctoria. 


in  a case  of  inverted  uterus.  The  Baptisia  was  used  in  decoction,  as 
a local  application  to  the  protruded  viscus  which  was  nearly  gangre- 
nous, at  the  same  time  that  bark  was  given  internally,  and  he  remarks, 
“ as  to  the  remedy  used  in  this  case  to  stop  the  progress  of  gangrene, 
(Sophora  tinctoria,)  I am  disposed  to  consider  it  a very  powerful 
antiseptic  ; having,  besides  the  above,  used  it  in  a great  many  other 
cases  wherein  mortification  was  threatened  or  actually  present,  with 
the  most  decided  benefit,  both  externally  and  internally.”  The  same 
gentleman  has  recently  corroborated  the  above  favourable  statement 
of  the  antiseptic  virtues  of  this  article,  in  a letter  addressed  to  a gen- 
tleman* in  our  University,  who  has  made  this  plant  the  subject  of  his 
inaugural  dissertation.  “ I would  observe,”  says  Dr.  Comstock  in 
the  letter  alluded  to,  “ that  it  is  used  in  cases  of  mortification,  in 
fevers  supposed  to  be  putrid,  and  inclining  to  putrescency,  and 
in  general  where  antiseptics  are  indicated.  In  cases  of  mortification 
it  is  used  as  a poultice,  applied  externally,  or  in  strong  decoction  as 
a fomentation.  When  used  internally,  I consider  an  ounce  of  the  re- 
cent root  to  a pound  of  boiling  water,  about  a suitable  proportion. 
The  quantity  to  be  administered  of  this  decoction,  is  half  an  ounce, 
in  from  four  to  eight  hours.  If  it  proves  cathartic,  the  quantity  is  to 
be  diminished,  or  laudanum  to  be  given  with  it.  I consider  it  to  be  the 
most  powerful  antiseptic  in  use,  and  it  is  very  frequently  resorted  to 
by  the  people  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  by  some  practitioners 
of  medicine.” 


^ Mr.  Weems. 


Baptisia  tinctoria. 


61 


The  foregoing  remarks  are  unquestionably  entitled  to  much  credit. 
They  are  amply  sufficient  to  induce  an  extensive  use  of  the  wild  in- 
digo for  its  antiseptic  virtues,  and  I am  glad  to  say,  that  my  own 
trials  of  the  decoction  as  an  external  application  to  foul  ulcers,  fully 
corroborates  the  reports  of  Drs.  Comstock  and  Thacher. 


(Economical  uses. 


The  young  shoots  of  this  plant,  which  resemble  asparagus  in  ap- 
pearance, have  been  used  in  New  England  as  a substitute  for  it. 
Like  the  young  shoots  of  poke,  however,  they  have  occasionally  pro- 
duced drastic  evacuant  effects. 

The  very  common  practice  in  the  country  of  placing  this  plant 
about  the  harness  of  horses,  to  kill  or  drive  away  flies,  has  given  it 
in  some  places  the  name  of  Horse-fly-weed.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
leaves  and  flowers  contain  something  noxious  or  deleterious  to  the 
flies,  for  it  is  said,  I know  not  with  what  truth,  more  effectually  to 
keep  off  those  insects,  than  any  other  plant. 


62 


Baptisia  tinctoria. 


TABLE  XXIX. 


Fig.  1 . A flowering  twig  of  Baptisia  tinctoria  of  the  size  of  nature,  cull- 
ed in  the  month  of  August,  when  the  capsules  begin  to  be 
formed. 

2.  The  vexillum  or  banner  of  the  corolla. 

3.  One  of  the  wings. 

4.  The  carina  or  keel. 

5.  Calix,  stamens,  and  pistil. 

6.  Pistil. 

7.  The  calix. 


ACORUS  CALAMUS 


CALAMUS.  SWEET-FLAG. 


Germ.  Yielleicht  tier  acorus  der  Alten ; Acorus  verus  Calamus  officin.;  Acorus  odoratus. 
Der  Kalrnus  oder  Calmus ; die  wohlriechende  Schvvertlilie.  Gemeina  Cala- 
mus. (Willd.) 

Dutch.  Kalmus. 

Dan.  Kalmus,  Calmus. 

Swed.  Kalmuss. 

Engl.  The  sweet  smelling  flag ; sweet  cane;  sweet  grass;  myrtle-flag;  sweet  myrtle- 
grass. — Galic . Milsean-mara. 

French.  L’acore  odorant.  Lamarck;  L’acorus  veritable.  Bom. 

Ital.  Acoro,  calamo  odorato,  canna  odorifera. 

Span.  Acoro  calamo.  (Im  arancel  de  rentas  y diezmos  del  ano  de  1T09  wird  er  cala his 
genannt.) 

Port.  Acoro  calamo;  canna  cheirosa. 

Russ.  Keren,  Ir. 

Poln.  Tatarskie  ziele. 

Rohm.  Pruskwoi’ek,  Prasskworec. 


64 


Acorns  calamus. 


Hunga.  Kalmuss. 

Lett.  Kalmus  sakkenes,  kanveles,  Karili.  Fischer. 

Ehstn.  Kalmusfid,  kalmus ; So  ingwer. 

Fran.  L’acorus  dcs  Indes  ou  asiatique.  Bom. — La  bassombe.  Lamarck. 

JIalab.  Waembu.  Rheed. 

Ceylon.  Vazumbo. 

Java.  Deryngo. 

Japan.  Kawa  sobu.  Thunb. 

Bra.  Bembi. 

Egypt.  Cassabel,  Bamira. 

Hebr.  Kneh-boschem. 

Acorus  Calamus  ; Ait.  Hort.  Kew.  1.  p.  474.  Roy.  Lugd.  6.  FI.  Suec.  277.  £97. 
Mat.  Med.  p.  96.  Hall.  Helv.  n.  1507.  Gmel.  lib.  1.  p.  1.  Scop.  Carn.  n. 
4£6.  Pollich.  Pal.  n.  343.  Ludw.  ect.  t.  34.  Kniph.  Ceut.  9.  n.  3.  Hoffm. 
Germ.  1£3.  Roth.  Germ.  i.  153.  ii.  398.  a.  Acorus  vulgaris,  Bank.  Pin.  34. 
Hort.  Cliff.  137.  Blackw.  t.  466.  Mor.  Hist.  3.  p.  £46.  s.  8.  t.  13.  f.  4. 
Tabern.  64£.  /3.  Acorus  verus.  Herm.  Lugdb.  9.  FI.  Zeyl.  13£.  Garz.  £88.  c. 
Rumph.  Amb.  5.  p.  178.  t.  7£.  f.  1.  Rheed.  Mai.  11.  p.  99.  t.  60.  Hout- 
tuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  6.  p.  354.  Smith.  Brit.  FI.  373.  Engl.  Bot.  t.  356.  L. 
Suec.  n.  £97.  Sp.  PI.  462.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  11.  par.  1.  p.  199.  Woodville 
Med.  Bot.  472.  t.  173.  Bot.  Arrang.  357.  Mich.  FI.  Bor.  Am.  1. 194.  Huds. 
147.  FI.  Dan.  t.  1158.  Thunb.  Japon.  144.  Hort.  196.  Scop.  Carn.  n.  426. 
Jacq.  Yind.  60.  Gouan.  Hort.  18.  Hist.  ox.  s.  8.  t.  13.  f.  4.  Raii.  Syn.  437. 
Lob.  Adv.  29.  Dalech.  1618.  Clus.  Hisp.  521.  Lob.  Obs.  30,  inner  fig.  and 
ic.  1.  57.  outer  fig.  Dod.  249.  Repr.  in  Lob.  Obs.  30,  inner  fig.  &c.  Ger.  by 
Johns  62.  Clus.  Panr.  259.  Cop.  in  Bankn.  J.  ii.  734.  and  Park.  Theatr. 
140,  and  Repr.  in  Ger.  by  Johns  62.  Blackst.  Haref.  2.  Alst.  1.  356.  Cutl. 
435.  Krock.  n.  540,  Schrod.  525.  Ruttcy  9.  Dale  259.  Geoffr.  ii.  2.  Herm. 
8.  Hill.  570.  Mill.  Jos.  12.  Pharm.  Edin.  Lew.  Disp.  by  Dune.  127.  Mur. 
J.  1.  195.  Pearson,  R.  ii.  165.  Pharm.  Lond.  Cartheus.  iii.  60.  Heberd. 
161.  Huleland,  account  from,  in  Med.  Rev.  ii.  458.  Lin.  Hot  Clim.  314  j 


Acorns  calamus. 


05 


Seam.  148.  Monro  iii.  36;  Sold.  ii.  128.  186.  Moseley  169.  Neum.  ii.  200. 
Percival  ii.  275.  Ploucq.  Bibl.  1.  129.  176.  Quarin.  Animad.  170.  172.  175. 
Spielm.  242.  Yog.  189.  Pharm.  Suec.  Berg.  274.  Linn.  112.  Mur.  v.  39. 
Schoepf  49.  Lew.  1.  251.  Cliom.  180.  L.  Sp.  463.  Herm.  Hort.  9.  Jour. 
1.  259.  Boerh.  ii.  167.  Garzias,  ap.  Clus.  exot.  200.  Rheede  xi.  99.  t.  60. — - 
Acorus  indicus,  Geoffr.  ii.  5.  Herm.  11.  A.  asiaticus , Dale  259.  A.  veriis , Linn. 
112.  Mur.  v.  39.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  ii.  283.  A.  calamus,  Pursh.  FI. 
Am.  Sep.  i.235.  Muhl.  Cat.  35.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  43 ; Compend.  FI.  Ph. 
i.  169.  Big.  Florula  Bost.  83.  Pharm.  Mass.  Med.  Soc.  4.  Thach.  Disp.  3d. 
ed.  131.  Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  177.  Abbot.  77.  Eng.  Bot.  356.  Dyck.  Ed. 
Disp.  149. 


ACORUS. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  586. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Typhce.  Classis  II.  Ordo  I. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Piperitce. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Hexandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Spadix  cylindricus,  tectus  flosculis.  Cor.  6-petalse,  nudae.  Stylus  0.  Caps.  3-locularis. 
Acortjs,  T.  L.*  Spadix  cylindricus  flosculis  tectus.  Calix  6-partitus  persistens.  Sta- 
mina 6,  (calici  inserta  ?)  Germen  1 ; Stylus  0 ; Stigma  punctual  prominens. 
Capsula  3-gona  3-sperma,  (3-locul.  polysp.  ex  Lin.)  Spadix  innascens  medio 
folio  ultra  producto  semulanti  spatham  pianam.  Aflinior  forte  juncis,  ex  Bern. 
Jussaeo.  Juss.  Gen.  PI.  ed.  1789.  p.  25. 

Acortjs  Calamus ; scapo  mucrone  longissimo  foliaceo.  Willd. 

9 


VOL.  II. 


66 


Jicorus  calamus. 


SYNONYMA. 

Titha  aromatica,  clava  rugosa.  Moris. 

Acorcm  legitinnim.  Tabern. 

Calamus  aromaticus.  Garz. 

Acorum.  Rumpli. 

Waember.  Rheed. 

PHARM. 

Acori  Calami  Radix.  Edin. 

Calami  Radix.  Lond. 

Acori  Radix.  Dub. 


Calamus  is  a fine  aromatic,  and  well-known  aquatic  plant.  It  is 
truly  indigenous  to  our  states,  and  though  not  specifically,  is  slightly 
different  from  the  foreign  vegetable.  It  is  a species  of  the  genus 
Acorus,  a term  derived  from  the  pupil ; having  been  formerly 
esteemed  peculiarly  beneficial  in  disorders  of  the  eye.  There  are 
only  two  described  species,  the  subject  of  this  chapter  and  the  A. 
gramineus,  which  is  cultivated  in  China.  Of  the  A.  calamus,  European 
writers  describe  two  varieties,  the  vulgaris , European  sweet-rush, 
sweet-smelling  flag  or  calamus  aromaticus,  and  the  verus  seu  Asi- 
aticus , Indian  sweet-rush,  or  calamus  aromaticus.  The  former  is  said 
to  be  distinguished  by  “ its  long  sword-shaped  leaves,  resembling 
those  of  the  flag,  but  narrower,  of  a brighter  green,  and  yielding, 
when  broken,  a strong  aromatic  scent ; and  also  by  its  oblique  cvlin- 


2 


Acorns  calamus . 


67 


dric  spike  of  flowers,  proceeding  from  the  side  of  the  stem  at  the 
edge  of  the  leaf,  which  spike  is  generally  single,  sometimes  double, 
and  more  rarely  triple,  or  quadruple.  It  grows  naturally  on  the  banks 
of  rivers,  and  in  shallow  standing  waters  ; and  is  found  in  many 
parts  of  England ; and  plentifully  in  the  standing  waters  and  canals 
of  Holland,  and  is,  besides,  common  in  many  parts  of  Europe.”*  The 
other  variety  is  called  the  Indian  calamus,  and  grows  not  only  in 
marshy  ditches,  but  in  more  elevated  and  dry  places  in  Malabar, 
Ceylon,  Amboyna,  and  other  parts  of  the  East  Indies ; it  is  said  to 
differ  little  from  the  European,  except  in  being  a little  more  tender 
and  narrow,  and  of  a more  hot  and  pungent  taste.  The  shops  are 
usually  supplied  with  this  article  from  the  Levant : but  such  roots  are 
said  not  to  be  superior  to  those  of  the  plant  indigenous  to  England ; 
and  the  same  may  be  said  respecting  that  indigenous  to  the  United 
States,  a figure  of  which  is  here  given. 

The  root  is  perennial,  rugose,  horizontal,  jointed,  somewhat  com- 
pressed, from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  thick,  and  from  six  inches  to 
two  feet  long,  sending  off  from  the  base,  a great  number  of  small  and 
large  round  fibres,  which  are  sometimes  white,  and  often  yellow. 
The  joints  are  from  half  an  inch  to  an  inch  long.  They  are  white, 
tinged  by  triangular  shades  of  sienna,  rose-red  and  bistre,  and  often 
covered  with  numerous  round  elevated  spots,  occasioned  generally 
by  the  insertion  of  the  fibrous  portions  which  have  fallen  off.  From 
these  joints,  and  from  the  point  between  the  lateral  union  of  the  roots, 


# Edit.  Article  Acorus.  Rees’s  Ency. 


68 


Acorns  calamus. 


bunches  of  brown  fibres  resembling  coarse  hair,  are  always  found 
when  the  plant  has  grown  in  its  natural  wet  situations.  The  root  is 
internally  of  a white  spongy  texture,  and  loses  nearly  one  half  of 
its  diameter  in  exsiccation.  Its  odour  is  strong,  aromatic,  subtle  and 
pungent,  particularly  when  dried ; and  its  taste  very  peculiar,  being 
somewhat  saccharine,  and  agreeably  aromatic  when  first  chewed, 
but  upon  mastication  becoming  bitter,  acrid  and  nauseous.  The  leaves 
are  long,  sword-shaped,  sheathing,  especially  at  the  base ; and  at  their 
origin  from  the  root  are  of  a red  colour  mixed  with  green  and  white. 
The  flowers  are  tesselately  arranged  on  a spadix,  coming  out 
laterally  from  the  middle  of  a foliaceous  scape,  which  extends  a 
considerable  distance  beyond  it,  so  as  to  have  the  appearance  of  a 
leaf ; and  indeed  it  is  generally  said  by  botanists,  that  the  spadix 
proceeds  from  a leaf.  This  spadix  is  solitary,  from  one  and  a half  to 
two  inches  and  a half  long,  something  less  than  half  an  inch  in  dia- 
meter, cylindrical  and  attenuated  at  its  base  and  apex.  It  is  croud- 
ed  spirally  with  numerous  small  greenish-yellow  flowers,  consisting 
of  six  small  concave  membranous  truncated  petals,  without  any  calix, 
and  stamens  varying  in  number,  from  six  to  five  and  four,  which 
have  thick  filaments  and  double  anthers.  The  germen  is  gibbous  and 
without  any  style,  being  crowned  by  a pointed  stigma.  The  capsule 
is  somewhat  oblong,  and  contains  a great  number  of  small  thin  seeds 
in  its  numerous  cells.  Its  favourite  situations  are  the  borders  of  ri- 
vulets, creeks,  and  small  running  streams,  where  it  is  generally 
emerged  half  its  height  in  the  water.  In  these  situations  it  is  found  in 
company  with  different  species  of  Iris,  and  Typha,  (cat’s-tail  or  bull- 


Acorus  calamus. 


69 


rush)  all  which  are  indiscriminately  known  by  the  common  name  of 
flag.  It  is  often,  however,  found  in  swampy  meadows,  old  ditches, 
overflowed  places,  and  low  moist  grounds  contiguous  to  water.  It 
flowers  in  May  and  June,  at  which  time  it  may  readily  be  distinguish- 
ed from  the  other  plants  called  flags.  Calamus  is  a common  inhabitant 
of  the  sites  just  specified,  throughout  the  United  States,  and  can 
seldom  be  sought  for  unsuccessfully,  at  the  period  of  its  florescence. 
When  out  of  bloom,  the  smell  of  the  roots,  and  indeed,  of  the  whole 
plant,  will  readily  direct  to  the  spot  where  it  grows. 

MEDICINAL  AND  CHEMICAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  root  only  of  calamus  is  used  in  medicine.  It  is  carminative 
and  stomachic,  and  is  used  as  an  ingredient  in  many  bitter  infu- 
sions. It  communicates,  however,  as  has  already  been  remarked, 
a nauseous  flavour  to  such  infusions.  The  root,  when  dried,  has  a 
warm  and  tolerably  strong  aromatic  smell,  and  a pungent  bitter 
taste.  It  contains  an  essential  oil,  to  which  is  probably  owing  its  pe- 
culiar taste,  and  the  agreeable  flavour  it  is  known  to  communicate 
to  the  bitter  infusions  of  which  it  is  an  ingredient;  for  the  residuum 
after  distillation  has  a nauseous  flavour  dissimilar  to  calamus.  Hoff- 
man* obtained  only  two  ounces  of  the  essential  oil  from  fifty  pounds 


* Observat.  Physico-chym.  lib.  1.  obs.  1. 


70 


Acorus  calamus. 


of  the  root;  but  Neuman  and  Cartheuser  obtained  it  in  much 
greater  proportions.  It  was  formerly  recommended  by  a writer  of 
authority,* * * §  in  vertigo,  proceeding  from  a vitiated  stomach ; and  in 
intermittents,  which  are  said  to  have  been  cured  by  this  medicine, 
after  the  bark  had  failed. f To  its  reputed  efficacy  in  scorbutic  and 
haemorrhagic  complaints,  in  the  words  of  Dr.  Woodville,  “ little  cre- 
dit should  be  given,  and  still  less  to  its  supposed  elexipharmic 
power.”t  Calamus  also  stands  as  an  ingredient  in  the  renowned 
mithridate  and  theriaca,  and  in  the  compound  powder  of  arum. 
The  candied  roots  are  said  to  be  used  by  the  Turks  in  Constan- 
tinople, as  a prophylactic  against  contagion.  The  preparations  of 
it  enumerated  by  Murray, $ are,  a dry  confection  of  the  roots,  a 
distilled  water  and  oil,  a spirituous  and  aqueous  extract,  and  the 
elixir  vitse  Matthioli,  and  elixir  vitrioli  Mynsichti.  The  infusions 
in  water  are  strongly  imbued  with  the  odour  of  the  root,  and 
have  a moderately  warm  and  very  bitter  taste.  Spirituous  tinc- 
tures are  more  warm  and  pungent  than  aqueous  infusions,  but 
much  less  bitter,  and  have  but  little  smell,  and  water  applied  after 
spirit  gains  a considerable  bitterness. ||  Hence  it  is  evident  that  water 
is  a better  menstruum  than  spirit  to  extract  the  medical  virtues  of 

* De  Mayerne,  Prax.  Med.  p.  59. 

f Act.  Societ.  Med.  Hav.  vol.  9.  p.  206. 

t Med.  Bot. 

§ App.  Med.  2.  5.  p.  39. 

||  Lewis,  Mat.  Med.  p.  252.  vol.  1. 


Acorus  calamus. 


71 


calamus.  According  to  Lewis,  on  distilling  the  spirituous  tincture, 
the  distilled  spirit  has  scarcely  any  smell  or  taste  of  the  root,  and 
the  extract  has  very  little  smell  and  much  less  taste  than  might  be 
expected  from  so  warm  and  pungent  a root.* 

It  may  be  necessary  to  remark,  that  the  American  variety  of  cala- 
mus does  not  differ  in  medical  properties  from  that  imported  from 
Asia  and  the  Levant;  or  from  that  indigenous  to  Europe.  While  it 
will  be  seen,  that  this  article  has  a conspicuous  rank  in  all  European 
works  on  Materia  Medica,  it  must  be  confessed  it  is  at  present 
but  little  used  in  this  country.  Yet  the  disuse  into  which  it 
has,  undeservedly  I think,  fallen,  is  more  the  consequence  probably 
of  that  kind  of  fashion  which  sways  in  medicine  as  in  other  spheres, 
than  to  any  want  of  confidence  in  the  virtues  of  the  medicine.  As 
there  is  no  good  reason  why  this  confidence  should  be  impaired, 
it  cannot  be  improper  to  urge  a recourse  to  the  use  of  this 
article,  as  extensive  as  its  peculiar  virtues  merit.  In  my  opi- 
nion, it  is  one  of  the  most  efficacious  stomachics  which  the  Ma- 
teria Medica  presents.  Dr.  Swediaur  recommends  it  either  in  the 
form  of  extract,  (dose  half  a drachm)  or  candied,  in  dyspeptic  cases. 
My  experience  enables  me  to  say  that,  in  dyspeptic  flatulency,  and 
other  disorders  of  the  stomach,  and  in  colic,  it  merits  the  mark- 
ed attention  of  physicians.  It  has,  in  my  practice,  proved  ener- 


* Lewis,  Mat.  Med.  p.  252.  vol.  1. 


72 


Acorns  calamus. 


getically  beneficial  in  that  distressing  complaint  to  which  sailors  are 
so  frequently  subject,  from  the  nature  of  their  life  and  diet,  well 
known,  particularly  to  naval  surgeons,  by  the  name  of  wind  colic ; 
given  in  hot  decoctions  in  the  manner  of  ginger  tea,  it  quickly  re- 
lieves the  distressing  swelling  of  the  belly,  by  the  discharge  of  wind. 
It  may  be  chewed  by  dyspeptic  persons,  and  the  juice  swallowed, 
rejecting  the  pulp  ; and  in  this  manner  it  proves  a pleasant  remedy 
for  indigestion,  in  the  course  of  a week  or  two.  I have  on  some  oc- 
casions prescribed  the  hot  infusion  to  infants  labouring  under  colic, 
and  with  success.  In  intermittents  I have  had  no  experience  with  it, 
neither  do  I know  of  any  authentic  accounts  on  this  point ; though  it 
has  repeatedly  been  mentioned  to  me  by  country  people,  that 
they  cure  agues  by  the  free  use  of  the  tincture.  When  masticated, 
it  stimulates  the  salivary  glands  powerfully,  producing  a copious  dis- 
charge of  saliva.  I have  heard  of  its  being  used  in  this  manner,  with 
success,  to  cure  the  tooth  ach. 


Acorus  calamus . 


73 


(Economical  uses. 


Beckstein  observes,  that  the  leaves  are  noxious  to  insects : and 
it  is  well  known  that  no  kind  of  cattle  will  eat  any  part  of  the 
plant.  It  has  been  suggested  therefore,  that  the  leaves  might  be 
usefully  employed  in  destroying  the  moths  that  infest  woollen  cloths, 
and  the  worms  which  injure  books.*  M.  Bautroth  has  used  the  whole 
plant  for  tanning  leather ; and  it  is  supposed  by  Dr  Bohmer,  that 
the  French  snuff,  called  a la  violette,  receives  its  peculiar  scent  from 
this  root  Throughout  the  United  States,  it  is  used  by  the  country 
people  as  an  ingredient  in  making  wine  bitters 


* Mease’s  Edit.  Dom.  Ency. 


VOL.  II 


10 


Acorns  calamus . 


74* 


TABLE  XXX. 

Fig.  1 . Represents  the  upper  portion  of  the  floriferous  leaf,  support- 
ing the  spadix  of  flowers. 

2.  The  root. 

(Of  the  size  of  nature.) 

3.  A stamen. 

4.  A flower. 

5.  The  stigma  and  germ. 

(Magnified.) 

s 


rrom  Nature  by  WN.  C.  Harcon. 


Tanner.  V- -g once  .Kerr nv  Sc  Co  sc 


( Sweet  Flag.Calarous.) 


ACOMITS  CAXiAJMTlETS  ° 


Fig.  2. 


Fig.  I. 


SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 


CAROLINA  PINK-ROOT. 

Indian  Pink.  Pink-root.  Worm-grass.  Carolina  Pink.  Unsteetla,  of  the  Cherokee 

Indians. 

Germ.  Nordamerikanische  Spigelie.  (Willd.) 

Spigelia  Marilandica.  Syst.  Yeg.  166.  Hope.  Act.  Edin.  3.  ann.  1771.  p.  151.  t.  1. 
Curt.  Mag.  202.  L.  Sp.  PI.  2.  p.  249.  Gron.  Yirg.  142.  Rai.  Dendr.  32. 
Catesb.  Car.  2.  p.  78.  t.  78.  Houttuyn  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  5.  p.  502.  Curt.  Bot, 
Mag.  1.  t.  80.  Woodville  Med.  Bot.  2.  288.  t.  105.  Walt.  FI.  Car.  92.  Mich. 
FI.  Bore.  Am.  1.  147.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  1.  139.  Elliot,  Sketch.  1.  236.  Gron. 
Yirg.  30.  Chalmers,  Diseases  S.  Car.  1.  67.  Pharm.  Edin.  Bart.  39,  repr. 
in  Phys.  Jour.  viii.  428.  Lew.  Disp.  by  Dune.  317.  Murr.  J.  1.  378.  Home, 
F.  Clin.  420.  Rush,  1.  185.  Schoepf,  21.  Monro,  iii.  270.  Pharm.  Lond. 
Berg.  94.  Lew.  ii.  377.  Yog.  216.  Garden  in  Phys.  Ess.  iii.  145.  Graing. 
28.  Lining  in  Phys.  Ess.  1.  436.  Stok.  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  1.  309.  Big.  Med. 
Bot.  1.  146.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  1.  par.  ii.  p.  825.  Thacher’s  Disp.  3d.  ed, 
362.  Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  568.  Pharm.  Mass.  Med.  Soc.  30.  Barton’s 
Collections,  3d.  ed.  par.  1.  38,  39.  61.  Dyck.  Edin.  Disp.  383.  Nutt.  Gen. 
Am.  PI.  ii.  134. 


76 


Spigelia  Marilandica . 


SPIGELIA. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  272. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Gentianae.  Classis  VIII.  Ordo  XIII. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Stellatae,  p. 

Artificial  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Pentandna.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Cor.  infundibulif.  Caps,  didyma,  l-locularis,  polysperma. 

Spigelia,  L.*  Arapabaca,  PI.*  Calix  5-partitus  Corolla  infundibuliformis,  limbo  patens 
5-fida  jequalis.  Stamina  5.  Germen  didymum  ; stylus  1 ; stigma  1.  Capsula 
didyma  2-locularis  quasi  2-cocca,  4-valvis  polysperma  seminibus  angulo  locu- 
lorum  interiori  atfixis.  Herbse ; folia  opposita  (floralia  in  S.  Anthelmia  4-verti- 
cillata ;)  flores  terminates  bracteolati  spicati  aut  cymosi,  in  spicis  secundi. 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  143. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  inferior,  of  one  leaf,  deeply  five-cleft,  pointed,  small,  perma- 
nent. Cor.  of  one  petal,  funnel-shaped  ; tube  much  longer  than  the  calix,  nar- 
rowed towards  the  base;  limb  spreading,  cloven  into  five  broad  pointed  seg- 
ments. Stam.  Filaments  five,  simple ; anthers  simple.  Pist.  Germen  superior, 
composed  of  two  globes ; style  solitary,  awl-shaped,  the  length  of  the  tube  ; 
stigma  simple.  Peric.  Capsule  two-lobed,  of  two  cells,  and  four  valves.  Seeds 
numerous,  very  minute. 

Ess.  Ch.  Corolla  funnel-shaped.  Capsule  of  two  globular  cells,  with  many  seeds. 
Spigelia  Marilandica:  caule  tetragono,  foliis  omnibus  oppositis.  Willd. 

Stem  four-sided,  leaves  all  opposite. 

SYNONYM  A. 


Spigelia  oppositifolia.  Stokes. 
Spigelia  Americana.  Monro. 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


77 


Lonacera  Marilandica  spicis  terminalibus,  &c.  Sp.  PI.  2.  p.  249.  Gron.  Virg.  142. 
Pericxymeni  Virginiani  flore  coccineo,  &c.  Rai.  dendr.  32. 


PHARM. 

Off.  The  root. 

Radix  Spigelije  Marilandica.  Edin. 

Spigelia  Radix.  Lon.  Dub. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Radix  perennis.  Caules  simplices,  erecti,  scabri,  quadrangulares,  rigidi,  annui.  Folia 
opposita,  sessilia,  ovato-lanceolata,  integerrima,  glabra,  patentia.  Spica  soli- 
taria  secunda.  Bracteis  parvulis  oppositis.  Calix  pentaphyllus  : foliolis  subu- 
latis,  persistentibus.  Corolla  superne  5-angulata,  fauce  gibba,  basi  dilatata : 
Limbus  5-partitus:  laciniis  lanceolatis  revolutis.  Stamina  5,  corolla  breviora. 
Antkerm  sagittate,  conniventes.  Germen  superum.  Stylus  teres,  interne  ar- 
ticulatus  parte  superiore  decidua.  Stigma  attenuatum.  Capsula  subrotunda, 
didyma:  loculis  bivaivibus.  Semina  plurima,  angulata,  scabra.  ( WiUd .) 

To  a celebrated  professor  of  anatomy  and  surgery  at  Padua,  Dr. 
Adrian  Spigelius,  the  genus,  of  which  a species  is  now  to  be  particu- 
larly described,  was  dedicated  by  Linnseus.  Spigelius  was  a distin- 
guished botanist*  in  his  day,  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  thus 

* Dr.  Spigelius  was  a profound  anatomist  and  distinguished  surgeon.  He  was  born 
at  Brussels  in  1578,  and  died  professor  of  three  branches  at  Padua,  whither  his  fame 


78  Spigelia  Marilandica. 

honoured  by  the  learned  Swede.  Of  this  genus  there  are  two  other 
species  besides  the  Marilandica,  and  which  are  natives  of  Brazil  and 
Cayenne. 

Spigelia  Marilandica  is  a herbaceous  plant,  from  six  to  twenty 
inches  high ; it  has  a perennial  root,  consisting  of  a multitude  of  slen- 
der fibres,  forming  together  a large  bunch,  as  represented  in  the 
plate  (Fig.  2.)  They  are  of  a yellow  colour  when  recently  remov- 
ed from  the  ground,  and  become  black  when  dried.  From  the  root 
proceed  several  four-sided,  smooth  stems  of  a purplish  colour,  gar- 
nished with  two  or  three  small  leaves,  which  are  usually  of  a faded 
green  or  brown  colour.  The  leaves  are  few,  sessile  and  opposite, 
ovate,  acuminated,  entire  and  glabrous,  except  on  the  margins  and 
the  veins,  where  they  are  pubescent.  The  flowers  are  borne  on  a 
terminal  racemous  spike,  which  leans  towards  one  side,  and  sup- 
ports from  four  to  twelve  flowers,  situated  on  short  peduncles.  The 
corolla  is  funnel-shaped,  contracted  at  the  top,  and  divided  into  five 
acute  segments.  It  is  of  a beautiful  carmine  colour  externally,  ex- 
cept towards  the  base,  where  it  is  blended  into  white ; and  of  an 
orange-yellow  within.  The  edges  of  the  corolla  segments  are  slight- 

had  caused  him  to  be  invited,  in  1625.  The  works  he  published  are  as  follow  : “ Isa- 
goges  in  Rem.  Herbariam  Libri  duo.”  “ De  Lumbrico  lato  Liber,  cum  notis  et  ejus- 
dem  Lumbrici  icone.”  “ De  incerto  tempore  Purtus.”  “ De  Semitertiana  Libri 
quatuor.”  « De  Humani  Corporis  Fabrica  Libri,  cum  Tabulis  98  sere  incisis.”  “ De 
formato  Fcetu  liber  singularis,  teneis  figuris  ornatus.”  “ Tractus  de  Arthritide.” 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


79 


ly  tinged  with  green,  which  is  sufficiently  conspicuous  when  they 
are  reflected.  Only  one  or  two  of  the  flowers  are  expanded  at 
once.  The  calix  consists  of  five  long  and  narrow  leaves,  which 
are  a little  serrated  on  the  margin;  it  is  permanent,  and  has  the 
segments  reflected  when  the  fruit  is  mature.  The  stamens  appear 
to  be  short  and  inserted  into  the  corolla  towards  the  upper  part  • but 
in  all  the  specimens  I have  examined,  they  may  be  said  to  have 
been  adnate,  and  the  length  of  the  tube,  as  represented  in  Fig.  5. 
for  the  filaments  could  be  distinctly  traced  down  to  the  base  of  the 
tube,  and  easily  detached.  The  anthers  are  oblong  and  narrow. 
Germen  superior,  ovate ; style  the  length  of  the  corolla,  terminated 
by  a long  fringed  stigma,  projecting  beyond  it  a quarter  of  an  inch. 
The  capsule  is  double,  two-celled,  and  contains  many  seeds. 

This  plant  is  a native  of  the  southern  states,  where  it  is  abundant. 
It  was  formerly  found  wild  near  Baltimore,  but  has  been  extirpated. 
Even  in  Virginia  it  is  rare,  and  does  not  grow  wild  in  any  state 
north  of  it.  It  is,  however,  cultivated  abundantly  in  some  of  our 
gardens,  particularly  at  Kingsess,  where  it  thrives  luxuriantly.  From 
living  specimens  obtained  thence,  I made  the  drawing,  from  which 
the  plate  has  been  engraved.  It  grows  in  rich,  dry  soils,  on  the  bor- 
ders of  woods,  and  its  time  of  flowering,  according  to  Mr.  Elliot,  is 
from  May  to  July. 


80 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


Carolina  pink-root  is  a medicine  of  high  reputation  as  a vermi- 
fuge. It  is  said  this  property  was  learned  from  the  Cherokee  In- 
dians ; but  it  was  first  brought  into  notice  among  physicians  by  Drs. 
Garden,  Lining,  and  Chalmers,  who  have  all  spoken  in  strong  terms 
of  its  anthelmintic  virtue.  It  also  acts  powerfully  as  a cathartic, 
but  this  effect  is  uncertain,  and  only  follows  large  doses.  As  the 
plant  contains  no  resin,  it  yields  its  principal  medicinal  virtues  to 
water.  It  is  accordingly  given,  most  frequently,  in  infusion  and  de- 
coction. The  root  is  supposed  to  be  more  powerful  than  the  plant; 
but  the  usual  practice  is  to  employ  the  whole  herb  in  hot  infusion  or 
decoction.  When  given  in  substance,  the  powdered  root  alone  is 
administered.  Dr.  Garden  discovered  that  the  recent  plant  was 
most  active,  and  that  when  the  root  became  old,  it  was  very  consi- 
derably impaired.  This  circumstance  should  be  borne  in  mind, 
whenever  it  is  necessary  to  employ  the  plant  in  medicine;  and 
when  it  is  known  to  be  old,  to  make  a proportionate  allowance  for 
the  deterioration.  The  pink-root  occasionally  induces  violent  nar- 
cotic effects,  such  as  dimness  of  sight,  giddiness,  dilated  pupil,  spas- 
modic motions  in  the  muscles  of  the  eyes,  and  even  convulsions. 
Indeed,  Dr.  Chalmers  attributes  the  loss  of  two  children,  who  died 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


81 


in  convulsions,  to  this  article.  Dr.  H.  Thompson  found  large  doses  of 
the  root,  to  produce  in  his  own  system,  acceleration  of  the  pulse, 
flushed  face,  drowsiness,  and  stiffness  of  the  eye-lids.  Notwithstand- 
ing these  narcotic  effects,  which  have  undoubtedly  followed  the  use 
of  the  plant,  it  is  said  that  no  danger  need  reasonably  be  appre- 
hended from  them:  and  some  eminent  physicians  even  assert,  that 
they  merely  indicate  the  favourable  operation  of  the  medicine. 

The  use  of  pink-root  has  not  been  confined  to  cases  of 
worms.  Dr.  Garden  mentioned,  in  the  first  letter  to  Dr.  Hope, 
which  was  written  about  the  year  1763,  that  “its  purgative  quality 
naturally  led  him  to  give  it  in  febrile  diseases,  which  seemed  to  arise 
from  viscidity  of  the  primes  vies;  and  in  these  cases  it  succeeded  to 
admiration,  even  when  the  sick  did  not  void  worms.”  According 
to  Dr.  Garden,  the  pink-root  never  does  much  good,  except  when 
it  operates  gently  as  a purgative.  Hence  it  has  become  a common 
practice  to  unite  calomel  or  rhubarb  with  it,  in  order  to  ensure  the 
cathartic  effect,  which  has  already  been  said  to  be  very  uncertain. 
He  recommended  that  a vomit  should  be  given  previously  to  the 
administration  of  the  pink-root;  and  this  practice  is  often  adopt- 
ed ; and  almost  universally,  a mercurial  cathartic  is  given  after  the 
pink-root.  The  late  Professor  Barton  recommends  this  medicine 
in  the  protracted  remitting  fever  of  infants,  which  is  supposed  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  hydrocephalus.  Garden,  and  others,  since  his 
time,  have  combined  the  Aristolochia  serpentaria  with  this  plant, 

11 


VOL.  II. 


82 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


and  it  is  said,  with  the  effect  of  counteracting  the  narcotic  power  of 
the  pink-root.  Professor  Bergelius*  has  known  instances  of  con- 
vulsions cured  by  Spigelia,  without  the  expulsion  of  worms;  and 
Dr.  Barton  informs  us,f  that  an  extensive  use  of  the  plant  convinced 
him  it  often  affords  relief  in  supposed  cases  of  worms,  but  in  which 
none  were  discharged. 

An  opinion  formerly  prevailed  that  the  poisonous  effects  of  Spi- 
gelia were  not  produced  by  that  plant,  but  by  the  roots  of  another, 
which  was  accidentally  gathered  with  it.  This  idea  is  not,  at  this 
time,  entertained ; and  the  small  black  fibres  which  are  found  among 
the  roots  of  the  spigelia,  and  which  were  supposed  to  belong  to  the 
deleterious  plant,  are  now  known  to  be  nothing  else  than  the  decay- 
ed roots  of  the  spigelia,  from  the  preceding  year,  and  which,  ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Elliot,  are  particularly  visible  in  the  spring,  at  which 
time  the  pink-root  is  gathered. 

The  spigelia  is  somewhat  mucilaginous,  and  is  sweetish  or  insipid 
to  the  taste.  It  is  therefore  readily  taken  by  children.  The  dose  is, 
of  the  dried  pulverized  root,  about  fifteen  grains  or  a scruple  for  a 
child  between  six  and  eight  years  of  age,  and  half  that  quantity  for 
an  infant  under  six  years.  To  an  adult  a drachm  or  two  drachms 

* Essays  and  Observations,  Physical  and  Literary,  vol.  iii.  art.  x.  p.  149. 

f Collections. 


2 


He.  2. 


Ho.  4. 


ftrntvrt  from  Nafurr  by  IV  J*  C JjQ/’fon 


Tanner.  VaUemcr.  Koirry  <k  Co -re 


Ho.l. 


SPIGEJLIA  M»A¥1ICA, 


( Carolina  rink-root. ) 


Spigelia  Marilandica. 


83 


may  safely  be  given.  The  common  mode  of  administering  the  in- 
fusion is  in  the  proportion  of  an  ounce  of  the  root  and  plant  to  a 
pound  of  boiling  water,  of  which  from  one  to  three  table  spoonsful 
may  be  given  to  a child,  and  about  half  a pint  to  an  adult.  If  no 
effect  follows,  the  doses  may  be  augmented. 


TABLE  XXXI. 


Fig.  1.  Represents  a flowering  branch  of  the  Spigelia  Marilandica,  of 
its  natural  size. 

2.  The  lower  parts  of  the  stems,  with  the  tuft  of  fascicled  roots. 

3.  The  calix. 

4.  The  pistil. 


5.  The  corolla  opened. 


AS  ARUM  CANADENSE. 


WILD  GINGER. 


Indian  Ginger.  Colts-foot.  Canada  Snake-root.  American  Asarabacca.  Kidney- 
leaved Asarabacca. 

Germ.  Canadische  Haselwurz,  ( Willd .) 

Asahum  Canadense.  L.  Sp.  PI.  633.  Hort.  Kew.  1.  1£4.  Sal.  R.  Hort.  344.  Gron. 
Virg.  72.  Corn.  24.  t.  25.  Park,  theatr.  266.  Hist.  Ox.  s.  13.  t.  7.  f.  4. 
Bart.  Collect.  26.  48.  ed.  3d.  par.  1.  p.  24.  27.  Big.  Med.  Bot.  1.  p.  150. 
Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  213.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  195.  411.  Schoepf,  72.  Mich. 
FI.  Am.  Bor.  1.  279.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  ii.  p.  596.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  53. 
Comp.  FI.  Ph.  ii.  146.  Muhl.  Cat.  47.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  ii.  200.  Willd.  Sp. 
PI.  tom.  ii.  par.  ii.  p.  838.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  2.  et  Ulustr.  Syst.  Thunb.  Jap.  190. 
Salisb.  Prod.  Chap.  Allert.  344.  Gron.  Virg.  52.  Corn.  Canad.  24.  t,  25, 
Houttuyn.  Liu.  Pfl.  Syst.  7.  p.  3.  Walt.  FI.  Car.  143. 


ASARUM. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  801. 


Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Aristolochiae.  Juss. 
Nat,  Ord.  Sarmentaceae.  Lin. 


36 


Asarum  Canadense. 


Art.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Ghjnandria.  Ordo  Dodecandria. 

Asarum,  T.  L.*  .isaret,  Cabaret.  Calix  urceolatus  3-fidus.  Stamina  12  brevia,  germini 
imposita  ; antberse  mediis  filamentis  adnatse.  Stylus  brevis ; stigma  stellatum 
6-partitum.  Capsula  6-locularis.  Radix  tuberosa  emittens  cauliculos  2-phyllos, 
in  foliorum  dichotomia  1-floros.  Juss.  Gen.  PI.  ed.  1789.  p.  73. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  one-Ieafed,  bell-shaped,  three  or  four  cleft,  coriaceous,  colour- 
ed, permanent ; clefts  erect,  bent  in  the  apex.  Cor.  none.  Stam.  Filaments 
twelve,  subulate,  half  the  length  of  the  calix ; anthers  oblong,  fastened  to  the 
middle  partition  of  the  filaments.  Pist.  Germ,  inferior  or  concealed  within  the 
calix ; style  cylindric,  the  length  of  the  stamens ; stigma  stellate,  6-parted. 
Per.  Capsule  coriaceous,  usually  six-celJed.  Seeds  several,  ovate. 

Ess.  Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Three  or  four  cleft,  placed  on  the  germ.  Cor.  none.  Capsule  coria- 
ceous, cx-owned.  Stigma  six-cleft.  Ency. 

Asarum  Canadense ; A.  foliis  lato-reniformibus  geminatis,  calice  lanato,  profunde  tri- 
partite, laciniis  sub-lanceolatis  reflexis.  Mich.,  Willd.,  and  Pursh. 

A pair  of  broad-reniform  leaves  ; calix  woolly,  deeply  three- parted;  segments 
sub-lanceolate,  reflexed. 

SYNONYM  A. 

Asarum  latifolium.  Salisb. 

Asarum  foliis  suh-cordatis  petiolatis.  Gron. 

Asarum  Carolinianum.  Walt. 

PHARM. 

Asari  Canadensis,  Radix  et  Herba. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Folia  utrinque  minutissime  pubescentia.  Gerinen  obsolete  trigonum.  Calix  foliolis  iil- 
ferne  incurvis  cavis,  superne  plus  minus  patentihus,  planiusculis,  marginibus 
revolutis.  Filamenta  vix  altitudinein  stigmatum.  Willd. 


Jtearum  Canadense. 


87 


The  root  of  wild-ginger  is  long,  creeping,  horizontal,  jointed, 
fleshy,  and  of  a light  yellowish  colour,  sending  off*  radicles  of  the 
same  hue.  It  smells  powerfully  aromatic,  and  is  exceedingly  grate- 
ful. The  stems  are  very  short,  bifoliate,  and  bear  a single  drooping 
flower,  in  the  fork  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  two  petioles.  These 
petioles  are  from  six  to  ten  inches  long,  round,  woolly,  greenish 
above,  and  flesh-coloured  below.  The  leaves  are  broad,  kidney- 
shaped, pubescent  above  and  below,  have  strong  prominent  veins 
which  give  the  under  part  a bullated  appearance.  They  are  of  a 
rich,  shining  light-green  above  ; and  pale,  almost  bluish  underneath. 
The  calix  is  very  woolly,  and  is  divided  into  three  broad,  concave, 
acuminated  segments,  with  the  point  reflexed.  They  are  of  a deep 
brown-purple  colour  at  the  inside,  and  of  a dull  purple,  inclining  to 
blue-green  externally.  I have  however  found  many  specimens  in 
which  both  externally  and  internally  the  colour  was  fine  purple. 
The  stamens  are  clavate,  of  unequal  length,  inserted  on  the  germ, 
and  are  generally  about  twelve  in  number.  The  anthers  are  adnate 
to  the  filaments  close  to  the  ends,  a slender  point  of  the  filament  pro- 
jecting in  each  stamen  beyond  the  anther.  There  are  three  nectarine 
filaments  or  perhaps  abortive  stamens,  inserted  near  the  lacinial  di- 
visions of  the  calix.  The  pistil  consists  of  an  inferior,  irregularly  hex- 
agonal germ,  and  a conical  deeply  grooved  style,  (or  perhaps  six 
styles  closely  connected  together,)  crowned  by  six  revolute  stig- 
mas. The  flower  is  generally  buried  under  the  earth  by  its  drooping 
uncurved  hairy  peduncle.  The  geographical  range  of  the  wild-ginger, 


ss 


Asarum  Canadense. 


is  from  Canada  to  Carolina,  and  perhaps  further  south.  It  inhabits 
rich  shady  woods,  and  appears  to  delight  in  hilly  places.  The  period 
of  flowering  is  from  April  to  May.  This  plant  grows  abundantly  on 
the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill,  above  the  falls  on  the  west  side,  and  on 
the  Wissahickon  creek. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


Wild-ginger  is  nearly  allied  in  its  medical  properties,  to  the  Aris- 
tolochia  serpentaria.*  The  root  possesses  the  same  spicy  and  aro- 
matic odour,  as  the  root  of  that  plant ; but  the  Asarum  has  it  more 
powerfully,  and  it  is  not  in  this  confined  to  the  roots : the  petioles, 
flowers  and  even  leaves,  being  endued  with  the  same  grateful  odour. 
The  wild-ginger  may  deservedly  be  received  into  the  Materia  Medica, 
as  a warm,  grateful  aromatic  stimulant,  acting  on  the  skin,  when 
taken  in  sufficiently  large  doses,  with  tolerable  certainty,  and  as  a 
powerful  errhine,  the  latter  property  residing  in  the  leaves.  The 
emetic  powerf  attributed  to  the  expressed  juice  of  the  leaves  is 
scarcely  worth  noticing,  the  dose  that  is  necessary  to  produce  the 

* Schoepf  informs  us  that  the  Asarum  Virginicum,  (which  is  nearly  allied  to  the  A. 
Canadense)  was  formerly  sold  in  England,  for  Aristolochia  serpentaria ; and  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Carolina  called  it  Heart  snake-root. 

f Barton’s  Collections. 


Asarum  Canadense . 


89 


emesis,  being  so  copious,  that  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  effect  on  the 
stomach  is  not  produced  by  the  quantity  of  crude  indigestible  mat- 
ter. (For  the  Chemical  Analysis,  see  Appendix.) 


(Economical  uses. 


The  roots  steeped  in  fermented  wine,  produce  a grateful  drink  ;* 
and  the  dried  pulverized  root  is  commonly  used  in  many  parts  of  our 
country,  as  a substitute  for  ginger:  hence  the  common  name. 
Schoepf  says  the  same  epithet  has  been  applied  to  the  Asarum  Vir- 
ginicum. 

* Asari  Canadensis  radices  suaveolentes  in  petio  vino  fermentanti  immersse,  liquoram 
gratiorem  reddunt.  Cornut. 


VOL.  II. 


IS 


As  arum  Canadensa. 


90 


TABLE  XXXTI. 


Fig.  i.  Represents  a specimen  of  Asarum  Canadense  in  flower,  of 
its  natural  size. 

2.  The  calix  with  the  stamens  and  pistil  brought  into  view. 

3.  A stamen. 


4.  The  pistil. 


Tabic  32 


go?.) 


Tanner.  Va/Zzrics.Jfc,  irny  l Cose 


J)ra  vim  from. 


Her 3. 


ry. 2. 


LAURUS  BENZOIN. 


SPICE-WOOD. 

Allspice-bush.  Fever-bush.  Wild  Allspice.  Spice-berry.  Fever-wood. 

Germ.  Benzoin  Lorbeer.  ( 'Willd .) 

Laurtjs  benzoin.  L.  Sp.  PI.  530.  Hort.  Cliff.  154.  Gron.  Virg.  46.  Roy.  Ludgb.  226. 
Fabric.  Helmst.  401.  Du  Roi  hai’bk.  1.  p.  354.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  6.  Willd.  Arb. 
1G5.  Wangh.  Amer.  87.  Comm.  Hort.  1.  p.  189.  t.  97.  Pluk.  Aim.  42.  t.  139. 
f.  3.  4.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  1.  p.  534.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  i.  p.  276. 
Willd.  Sp.  PI.  ii.  p.  485.  Mich.  FI.  Am.  Bor.  i.  p.  243.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i. 
p.  192.  Bartram’s  Travels  21.  Baylies  in  Med.  Pap.  47.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat. 
Med.  vol.  2.  p.  425.  Cutler,  440.  Hort.  Kew.  ii.  40.  Barton’s  Collec.  3d.  ed. 
par.  1,  p.  20.  par.  2.  p.  52.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  48.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  1. 
259.  Big.  Florula  Bost.  p.  97. 

LAURUS. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  388. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Lauri.  ClassisVI.  Ordo  YI. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Holeraceae. 

Artifi.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Enneandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Cal.  0.  Cor.  calycina,  6-partita.  Nedarium  glandulis  tribus,  bisetis,  germen  cingenti- 
bus.  Filamenta  interiora  glandulifera.  Drupa  1-sperma. 


92 


Laurus  benzoin. 


I. .wars,  T.  L.*  Lavrier.  Calix  6-partitus  aut  6-fidus  sequalis  Starninum  filamenta 
12,  6 exteriora  fertilia,  6 interiora  exterioribus  opposita  quorum  3 fertilia  basi 
2-appendicuIata  aut  2-glandulosa  et  3 alterna  sterilia.  Stigma  capitatum.  Folia 
plerumque  integra,  in  paucis  subopposita ; flores  in  plurimis  subpaniculati 
axillares  aut  terminates,  in  paucis  solitarii  aut  glomerati  axillares,  quandoque 
scxubus  abortivis  dioici.  Calix  quorumdam  deciduus,  cseterorum  pcrsistens 
cupulajformis  integer  aut  lobatus.  Drupa  in  plurimis  Olivse  aut  Ceraso  similis, 
in  L.  Fersea  pyriformis  magna.  Ex  Linnreo  stamina  quorumdam  numero  va- 
ria,  6-8  in  L.  Sassafras,  8-14  calice  4-fido  in  L.  Nobili,  $-c.  Confer  in  vivis. 
An  genus  dividendum  ? Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  80. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  none,  unless  the  corolla  be  taken  for  such.  Cor.  in  six  deep,  ovate,  point- 
ed, concave,  erect,  alternately  external  segments.  Nectary  consisting  of  three- 
pointed  coloured  tubercles,  each  terminating  in  two  bristles,  surrounding  the 
germen.  Stam.  Filaments  nine,  shorter  than  the  corolla,  compressed,  obtuse, 
three  in  each  row ; anthers  attached  to  the  edges  of  each  filament,  in  the  upper 
part,  at  each  side.  There  are  two  globular  glands,  on  a very  short  stalk,  at- 
tached to  every  filament  of  the  innermost  row,  near  its  base.  Pist.  Germen  supe- 
rior, nearly  ovate ; style  simple,  of  equal  thickness  throughout,  the  length  of  the 
stamens ; stigma  obtuse,  oblique.  Peric.  Drupa  oval,  pointed,  of  one  cell,  con- 
tained within  the  corolla.  Seed.  Nut  ovate,  pointed,  with  a kernel  of  the  same 
shape.  Ency. 

Laurus  benzoin;  ramis  virgatis  sub  floratione  aphyllis,  foliis  deciduis,  cuneato-ovali- 
bus,  subtus  albicantibus  subpubescentibus,  floribus  glomerato-umbellatis,  gem- 
mis  pedicellisque  glabris. — Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Leaves  ovate,  lanceolate,  pubescent  underneath ; flowers  in  clustered  umbels ; 
buds  and  pedicels  glabrous.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph. 

SYNONYMA. 

Laurus  pseudo  benzoin.  Mich. 

Laurus  jestivalis.  Wangh. 


Laurus  benzoin. 


93 


Arbor  Yirginiana  citrese  vellimonii  folio,  benzoinum  fundens.  Comm,  llort. 

Arbor  Yirginiana,  pishaminis  folio  baccata  benzoinum  redolens.  Pluk. 

Laurus,  sub  genus,  Euosmos  benzoin.  Nutt. 

PHARM. 

Lauri  benz.  Cortex  et  bacca.  The  bark  and  berries. 

The  term  Laurus  was  the  ancient  name  for  the  bay-tree,  and  it 
is  now  continued,  not  only  to  designate  that  tree,  but  is  applied  to 
a genus,  comprising  in  common  with  it,  a great  number  of  fine  aro- 
matic shrubs  and  arborescent  vegetables. 

The  laurus  benzoin  is  one  of  these,  and  it  is,  without  doubt,  one 
of  the  finest  aromatic  shrubs  of  our  country.  It  is  polygamous,  and 
rises  to  the  height  of  from  four  to  ten  feet,  and  is  very  bushy.  The 
stems  are  of  an  ash  colour,  often  spotted  with  white  dots.  The 
flowers  appear  early  in  April  or  the  last  of  March,  long  before 
the  leaves  put  out.  About  the  first  week  of  April  the  leaves  are  about 
as  far  advanced  as  represented  in  Fig.  1,  of  the  plate.  They  after- 
wards become  the  size  of  those  represented  in  Figs.  2,  and  3.  They 
are  cuneate-oboval,  nearly  pubescent  beneath,  and  always  paler 
than  above. 

The  greenish-yellow  flowers  appear  in  small  umbels,  containing 
each  from  two  to  four  flowers ; the  pedicels  in  these  umbels  are 


94 


Laurus  benzoin. 


smooth.  The  calix  is  hexaphyllous ; the  leaflets  oblong,  thin,  costate, 
with  globular  olearia.  There  are  generally  nine  stamens,  which  have 
two  of  the  three  outer  filaments  simple,  the  third  with  a pedun- 
culate gland  at  the  base  ; the  three  at  the  base  of  the  three  other 
leaflets,  with  two  pedunculate  glands  at  the  base  ; the  three  inner 

with  glands  at  the  base  ; pistil  terete  and  attenuate.  The  flowers  are 

\ 

succeeded  by  shining,  oval,  scarlet  or  crimson  berries,  which  are 
ripe  in  the  last  of  September.  They  possess  an  aromatic  and  grateful 
taste,  and  according  to  Dr.  Drake,  are  used  for  medicinal  purposes. 
The  spice-wood  inhabits  low  and  moist  places,  and  damp  shady 
woods.  It  is  partial  to  the  borders  of  streams  and  rivulets,  and  in 
such  places  seems  to  thrive  better  than  elsewhere.  It  is  found  from 
the  most  northerly  state  of  our  union  to  Florida;  and  is  every  where 
well-known  by  one  or  other  of  the  vulgar  names  at  the  head  of  this 
chapter. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  medical  virtues  of  spice-wood,  are  not  inconsiderable.  The 
bark  is  highly  aromatic,  stimulant  and  tonic,  and  is  extensively  used 
in  the  country,  I have  been  informed,  with  much  success,  in  in- 
termittent fevers.  It  is  given  generally  in  decoction,  but  not  unfre- 
quently  in  powder.  The  late  Dr.  Barton  informs  us,  that  a watery 
infusion  of  the  twigs  has  often  been  given  to  children  with  a view  to 


Laurus  benzoin. 


95 


dislodge  worms,  and  that  it  is  deemed  an  efficacious  medicine  in  such 
cases.  Of  this  I know  nothing  myself ; but  as  the  tea  made  by  in- 
fusing the  young  branches  is  very  pleasant,  it  would  certainly  be 
well  to  try  it  as  a vermifuge.  The  Indians  are  said  to  esteem  the 
spice-wood  highly  as  a medicine ; in  what  complaints  they  use  it 
I have  not  been  able  satisfactorily  to  learn.  Dr.  Drake*  mentions 
that  the  oil  of  the  berries  is  used  medicinally,  and  that  it  is  sti- 
mulant. The  dose  of  the  infusion  or  decoction  is  about  a pint  in 
twenty-four  hours.  When  the  powdered  bark  is  used,  one  drachm 
is  given  two  or  three  times  a day,  in  a glass  of  wine.  I have  known 
the  flowers  used  for  making  tea,  in  the  manner  that  sassafras  blos- 
soms are,  and  taken  as  a gentle  refreshing  stimulant. 

(Economical  use. 

The  berries  partake  of  the  same  spicy  flavour  which  distinguishes 
the  bark  of  the  shrub ; and  we  are  informed,  that  during  the  late 
American  war,  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  used  them  dried 
and  powdered  as  a substitute  for  allspice.f 


* Picture  of  Cincinnati. 
fBai'ton’s  Collections^ 


Laurus  benzoin. 


TABLE  XXXlir. 

Fig.  l.  Represents  a flowering  twig  of  the  Laurus  benzoin,  with  the 
leaves  just  coining  out.  The  earliest  flowers  appear  before 
there  are  any  leaves  on  the  shrub. 

2.  A specimen  of  the  plant  in  fruit,  culled  on  the  tenth  of  Sep- 

tember. 

3.  An  outline  of  one  of  the  largest  leaves. 

4.  A group  of  flowers  with  the  four  bractes. 

5.  An  expanded  flower  separated. 


6.  A seed. 


. i.  •,  rrt*/>i  Yacure  hv  W.J?  C 3orfon 


Tanner  VoTJnnuSearny  Sc  Co  sc 


pMMl  1B^TT^(D)IN‘o 


rr/t/s  33. 


COPTIS  TRIFOLIA. 


GOLD-THREAD. 

Mouth-root. 

Germ.  Kleinste  Christwurz.  ( Willd .) 

Coptis  trifolia.  Lin.  Sp.  PI.  784.  Am.  Acad.  v.  2.  p.  356.  t.  4.  f.  18.  Mich.  FI.  Bo- 
reali-Amer.  1.  325.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  ii.  390.  Salisb.  in  Linn.  Trans,  viii. 
305.  Sp.  PL  Willd.  ii.  1335.  Kalm’s  Travels,  iii.  379.  Big.  Med.  Bot.  1.  p. 
64.  Lepech.  Iter.  1.  190.  CEder.  FI.  Dan.  t.  566.  Pallas,  Iter.  iii.  34.  Big. 
Florula  Bost.  p.  134.  Thach.  Disp.  3d.  ed.  p.  235.  Cutler,  Amer.  Acad.  1. 
457.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  249. 

COPTIS. 

Salisbury. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Ranunculaceae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Linn.  Multisiliquae. 

Art.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Polyandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Calix  none.  Petals  five  or  six,  caducous  ; nectaries  five  or  six,  cucullate ; capsules 
from  five  to  eight,  pedicelled,  beaked,  many -seeded. 

Coptis  trifolia;  leaves  ternate,  scape  one-flowered. 


VOL.  II. 


13 


98 


Coptis  trifolia. 


SYNONYM  A. 

Anemone  Gronlandica.  FI.  Dan.  t.  dlxvi. 
Heixeborus  trifolius.  L.  and  others. 
Heixeborus  scapo  unifloro.  Am.  Acad. 

Nigeixa.  Cutler. 


PHARM. 

C'optis  trifolia.  Radix.  The  root. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Radix  fibrosa,  filiformis,  repens,  perennis.  Folia  radicalia  ternata;  foliolis  sessilibus, 
obverse  ovatis,  extrorsum  magis  gibbis,  argute  serratis,  rigidiusculis,  glabris, 
venosis.  Petioli  filiformes,  folio  longiores.  Scapus  solitarius,  filiformis,  petiolis 
duplo  Jongior,  instructus  bractea  subovata.  Flos  solitarius,  magnitudine  Boris 
Trientalis.  Corollae  petala  quinque,  ovata,  basi  in  ungues  attenuata,  alba,  stri- 
ata. Nectaria  petalis  saipius  plura,  lutea,  limbo  ovata,  basi  attenuata  in  cylin- 
drum  perforatum,  petalis  dimidio  breviora.  Staminum  filamenta  capillaria, 
alba,  plurima,  nectariis  vix  longiora.  Antherae  albse,  subrotundse,  erectse. 
Pistilli  germina  quinque  compressa.  Styli  filiformes,  longitudine  staminum, 
recurvi.  Stigmata  obtusa.  Pericarpium  capsulis  quinque,  acuminatis,  com- 
pressis,  coadunatis  margine  interiore.  Semina  plurima.  Minima  est  hsec  planta 
in  suo  gencre,  attamcn  spectabilis;  inter  Flores  Sibirise  speciosos  et  maxirne 
singulares  est,  et  jam  qusedam  Fumaria  bulbosis  affinis,  floribus  condecorata  in 
suo  genere  maximis.  Amcen.  Acad.  p.  355. 


2 


Coptis  trifolia. 


99 


This  pretty  little  evergreen  plant,  was  referred  by  all  botanists 
to  the  genus  helleborus,  until  Mr.  Salisbury  separated  it,  on  the 
characters  which  are  given  above.  He  associated  it  with  another 
plant,  having  twice  ternate  leaves  and  green  flowers,  found  by 
Mr.  Menzies  on  the  north-west  coast  of  America.  To  the  genus  he 
gave  the  name  of  coptis,  from  to  cut;  and  botanists  now  uni- 
versally adopt  his  name  and  generic  characters.  The  species  which 
is  the  subject  of  this  chapter,  is  a native  of  Siberia,  Iceland,  Labrador, 
and  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  roots  are  perennial,  about  the  size  of  bobbin,  creeping,  fasci- 
cled, and  of  a bright-yellow  colour,  which  gives  them  the  name  of 
gold-thread.  The  stems  are  slender,  round,  and  proceed  from 
sheathing,  ovate,  sharp-pointed  squamous  sheaths.  The  leaves 
are  ternate,  coriaceous,  smooth,  and  of  a deep,  shining  evergreen, 
conspicuously  and  delicately  veined.  They  are  supported  by  long 
and  short,  round,  slender  petioles.  The  folioles  are  cuneate-obo- 
vate,  with  acuminate  crenatures  on  the  margin.  The  scapes  are 
one-flowered,  slender,  terete,  and  garnished,  with  a mucronate  scale- 
like bract  at  some  distance  below  the  flower.  The  corolla  consists 
of  from  five  to  seven  oblong,  greenish-white,  concave  petals.  There 
are  five  or  six  clavate  fistulous  nectaries,  which  are  tinged  with 
yellow  at  the  top.  The  stamens  are  numerous,  consisting  of  delicate 
white  filaments  and  globose  anthers.  Germs  oblong,  flattened.  The 
capsules  are  oblong,  rostrate,  and  pedicellate,  containing  many  seeds 


100 


Coptis  trifolia. 


attached  obliquely  across  their  sides,  to  the  inside.  This  little  alpine 
evergreen  is  restricted  to  Canada  and  some  of  our  most  northerly 
states.*  It  is  found  in  sphagnous  swamps,  and  in  cold  situations  most 
abundantly,  flowering  in  the  month  of  May. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 


The  root  of  gold-thread  is  a pure  and  powerful  bitter,  devoid  of 
any  thing  like  astringency,  and  yielding  its  virtues  readily  to  watery 
menstrua,  though  its  bitterness  is  equally  well  given  out  to  spirit.  It  is 
used  in  both  ways,  in  the  New  England  states,  where,  according  to 
Dr.  Thacher,  it  has  long  been  a popular  remedy  for  apthous  affections 
of  the  mouth  in  children;  and  the  doctor  says,  “ experience  has  evinc- 
ed its  beneficial  effects.”  He  informs  us,  also,  that  it  is  considerably 
employed  as  a stomachic  bitter  in  debility  of  the  stomach  and  loss  of 
appetite.  Professor  Bigelow  states,  that  larger  quantities  of  this  article 
are  sold  in  the  druggists’  shops  of  Boston,  than  of  almost  any  other 
indigenous  production;  and  that  the  demand  arises  from  its  reputed 
efficacy  as  a local  application  in  apthous  and  other  ulcerations  of  the 
mouth.  He  thinks,  however,  that  its  reputation  in  these  cases  is 

* My  specimens  were  brought  to  me  from  New  England,  in  1814,  by  a physician  of 
this  city,  and  a large  quantity  of  the  root,  which  had  belonged  to  the  late  Professor 
Barton,  fell  into  my  hands  after  his  death. 


Coptis  trifolia. 


1®1 


wholly  unmerited,  and  attributes  the  benefit  which  has  attended  its 
use,  to  other  stimulating  and  astringent  articles  which  have  been 
combined  with  it.  I have  had  no  further  experience  with  this  plant, 
than  simply  in  a few  trials  to  ascertain  its  tonic  and  stomachic  vir- 
tues ; and  in  these,  the  results  fully  confirmed  the  promise  which  the 
sensible  properties  of  the  root  held  out.  It  is  one  of  the  purest  bitters 
I am  acquainted  with,  and  though  not  so  intense  as  quassia,  is  some- 
what similar  to  it.  It  may  be  safely  recommended  for  its  tonic  and 
bitter  powers. 


102 


Coptis  trifolia. 


TABLE  XXXIV. 


Fig.  l.  Coptis  trifolia,  of  its  natural  size,  in  flower,  and  with  the  last 
year’s  fruit  on. 


3.  A petal. 

3.  A pistil. 

4.  A nectary. 

5.  Stamen. 

6.  Capsule  opened,  shewing  the  seeds. 


►All  greatly  magnified. 


7.  The  entire  capsule,  (still  more  magnified.) 


N.  B.  The  organs  of  the  plant  as  above,  viz.  Figs.  3,  4,  and  5, 
are  copied  from  the  FI.  Dan.,  my  specimens  not  being  sufficient  to 
enable  me  to  draw  them  from  the  American  plant. 


Dratrn  from  Jffature  bv  K P C Barton. 


Tanner  Tall ante  Loony-  & ('<> 


(ndWPTIS 

(Gold  - Thread.) 


Fit/.  2 


Fig.  3. 


FRASERA  WALTERI. 


AMERICAN  COLUMBO.  COLUMBO. 


Columbia.  Indian  Lettuce.  Columbo-root.  Marietta  Columbo.  Wild  Columbo. 

Frasera  Walteri.  Walter,  FI.  Car.  88.  Mich.  FI.  Bor.  Am.  1.  p.  96.  Pursh,  FI. 
Am.  Sep.  1.  p.  101.  Drake’s  Piet.  Cin.  p.  85.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  1.  p. 
102.  Bart.  Collec.  ed.  3d.  par.  2.  p.  16.  Bart.  FI.  Virg.  49.  Gmelin,  Syst.  Nat. 
ii.  p.  215.  256.  Persoon,  Syn.  Plant.  1.  p.  137.  Bartram’s  Travels,  p.  42. 
Med.  Rep.  New  York,  vol.  15.  Elliot.  Sket.  vol.  1.  p.  205. 


FRASERA. 

Walter.  Michaux. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Gentianae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Tetrandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Cal.  profunde  4-partitus,  patens,  laciniis  lanceolatis,  acutis.  Cor.  calyce  multo  major, 
profundissime  4-partita,  patens  : laciniis  ovalibus,  ob  utrumque  marginem  ver- 
sus summitatem  incumbenti-inflcxum  quasi  acuminatis.  Glandula  conspicua, 


104 


Fraser  a Walteri. 


orbiculata,  convexo-protuberans  et  eleganter  barbata  in  parte  laciniarum  me- 
dia. Stain.  4,  corolla  breviora  eique  alterna,  filamenta  subulata;  anther® 
subovato-oblong®,  interne  subsemibilid®,  demum  reflex®.  Fist,  ovarium  ob- 
longo-ovatum,  compressum,  sensim  desinens  in  stylum  ipsius  circiter  longitu- 
dinc:  stigmata  2,  crassa,  glandulosa,  divergentia.  Caps,  majuscula,  ovalis, 
valde  compressa,  ambitu  submarginata,  subcartilaginea,  rudimento  styli  mu- 
cronata;  1-locularis,  margine  2-valvis.  Semina  pauca,  (8-12)  elliptica,  plano- 
compressa,  membranaceo-marginata;  ad  latera  utriusque  sutur®  immediate 
longitudinaliter  per  marginem  alterum  ita  adnexa,  ut  sibi  invicem  imbricatira 
incumbant. 

Obs.  Genus  gentianeum  ; fructu  fere  Menyanthis  Nymphoidis. 

Mich.  Flor.  Boreali-Amer.  p.  96. 

Calix  deeply  4-parted.  Corolla  4-parted,  spreading  ; segments  oval,  with  a bearded 
orbicular  gland  in  the  middle  of  each.  Capsule  compressed,  partly  marginated, 
1-celled.  Seeds  few,  (8  to  12)  imbricated,  large,  elliptic,  with  a membra- 
naceous margin. 


SYNONYMA. 

Frasera  Carolinensis.  Walter. 

Frasera  officinalis.  Bart.  FI.  Virg. 

Frasera  verticillata.  Drake,  and  others. 


PH  ARM. 


Fraser.®  Walteri.  Radix.  The  root. 


Frasera  Walteri. 


10  5 


The  superb  plant  which  is  the  subject  of  this  chapter,  was  dedi- 
cated by  Walter  to  Mr.  John  Fraser,*  and  is  the  only  species  of  the 
genus  known  at  present.  The  root  is  biennial,  large,  tuberous  and 
fleshy,  and  of  a yellow  colour.  The  stalk  is  strong,  succulent,  and 
fleshy,  from  eight  to  ten  feet  high,  nearly  square  and  furrowed,  send- 
ing of  whorls  of  large,  deep-green  glabrous  leaves,  at  intervals  of  six 
or  eight  inches,  to  about  half  its  length,  and  smaller  leaves  and 
flowering  branches  in  whorls  to  the  top.  “ The  lower  leaves  are  ob- 
long, lanceolate,  entire,  membranous,  delicately  veined,  from  six  to 
eight  inches  long,  and  from  two  to  three  wide  ; upper  leaves  narrow, 
lanceolate,  small.’ ’f 

The  leaves  according  to  Pursh,  Mr.  Elliot,  and  the  late  Dr.  Bar- 
ton,:]: are  occasionally  opposite.  They  generally  grow  to  the  number 
of  four  or  eight  together,  are  lanceolate  or  sometimes  oblong, 
ovate,  and  acute.  The  flowers  are  aggregated  in  clusters  ; the 
segments  of  the  corolla  are  lanceolate,  greenish-yellow,  or  cream- 
white,  finely  speckled  with  purple,  and  having  a pubescent  or  ciliated 
oval  gland  in  the  middle  of  each  petal,  which  is  green  internally, 
and  brown  on  the  edges.  Those  glands  are  conspicuous  on  both 
sides  of  the  petals,  as  represented  in  the  front  and  back  views  of  the 

* An  indefatigable  nursery  and  seedsman,  to  whose  exertions  the  gardens  of  Eng- 
land, and  particularly  of  London,  are  indebted  for  many  rare  American  plants. 

f Elliot.  ^ Flora  Virg. 


VOL.  II. 


14 


106 


Frasera  Wallen. 


two  expanded  flowers  in  the  plate.  The  peduncles  are  from  one 
to  three  inches  long,  one-flowered;  calacine  segments  lanceolate, 
shorter  than  the  corolla.  Filaments  four,  shorter  than  the  corolla, 
attached  to  the  base,  and  alternating  with  the  segments  of  the  co- 
rolla. Anthers  oblong,  incumbent.  Germ  superior,  ovate,  tapering 
above.  Style  only  the  attenuated  germ,  bifid.  Stigmas  two,  diverging. 
The  capsules  are  compressed,  somewhat  margined,  one-celled,  and 
contain  about  eight  or  twelve  diaphanous  flat  seeds,  with  a membra- 
naceous margin,  and  are  imbricately  attached  to  the  attenuate  mar- 
gins of  the  capsule.  These  capsules  (in  the  dried  specimens)  are  of 
the  colour  represented  in  the  plate,  (Fig.  2.)  The  habitat  of  this  plant 
is  variously  described  by  different  botanists.  Michaux,  it  appears,  has 
observed  it  in  wet  or  swampy  places  “ in  Paludosis  Carolinse.” 
Pursh  says  it  is  found  “ in  the  swamps  of  Lower  Carolina,  and  on 
the  borders  of  the  lakes  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  York.”  Mr. 
Nuttall  says,  “in  the  dry  and  open  woods  of  western  Pennsylvania, 
and  New  York,  in  certain  localities  it  is  abundant:”  and  Dr.  William 
Short,  in  a letter*  to  me,  says  it  grows  in  the  barrens  or  prairies  of 

* The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  letter  of  this  gentleman,  which  will,  I am  sure, 
be  interesting  in  this  place.  « The  flowers  of  the  Frasera  are  by  no  means  showy 
at  a distance,  but  exquisitely  delicate  upon  minute  examination. 

« The  Columbo,  for  so  it  is  universally  denominated  here,  grows  abundantly  in  the 
country  in  which  I reside,  particularly  those  portions  of  it  called  barrens  or  prairies, 
where,  from  the  annual  passage  of  fires  over  them,  the  forest  growth  is  stunted  and 
sparse,  but  affording  in  the  summer,  rank  and  luxuriant  growths  of  annual  plants,  and 


2 


Frasera  Walteri. 


10  7 


Kentucky.  The  late  Dr*  Barton  observed  it  in  1797,  growing  in 
great  abundance,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Jenisseia  river,  in  the  state 
of  New  York.  It  is  said  to  be  common  in  some  parts  of  Upper 
Canada;  but  the  states  of  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  yield  it  in  pro- 
fusion. From  the  abundance  which  grows  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Marietta,  in  Ohio,  it  has  received  the  name  of  Marietta  Columbo. 
According  to  Walter,  Michaux,  Mr.  William  Bartram,  and  Mr.  Elliot, 
it  grows  in  Carolina  and  Georgia.  The  latter  gentleman  mentions 
that  it  has  been  found  in  Fairfield  district,  and  in  Abbeville. 

The  credit  of  the  discovery  of  this  fine  and  interesting  plant, 
seems  to  be  due  to  Mr.  William  Bartram,*  of  Kingsess  gardens.  He 

some  shrubs.  Here  among  the  hazle,  and  different  species  of  Sumac,  the  Frasera  rears 
its  conical  head  in  all  its  grandeur,  frequently  attaining  the  height  of  eight  and  ten 
feet — in  other  parts  of  the  country,  not  so  particularly  congenial  to  its  growth,  I have 
seen  it  of  much  smaller  size.” 

* Mr.  Bartram  is  still  living,  though  aged  and  infirm.  He  resides  at  Kingsess  gar- 
dens, where  he  hallows  by  his  venerable  appearance,  and  graces  by  his  instructive 
converse  and  simple  manners,  the  seat  founded  and  supported  by  his  family.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  unambitious  lovers  of  nature  I have  ever  seen.  With  a mind  keen, 
penetrating  and  vivacious,  he  applied  himself  in  early  life,  to  the  study  of  botany, 
and  indeed  natural  history  generally ; but  more  particularly  devoted  himself  to  the  study 
of  the  manners  and  habits  of  our  birds,  and  other  interesting  points  of  inquiry  con- 
nected with  their  history  and  migrations.  In  his  travels  into  Florida,  he  relates  these 
in  all  the  fervour  of  a real  lover  of  nature’s  works,  and  with  such  innocent  enthusiasm, 
that  we  cannot  fail  to  love  and  venerate  the  author.  He  ranks  as  a botanist  in  a very 
high  grade.  All  his  observations  have  been  communicated  to  others,  for  the  good  of 


108 


Fraser  a JValteri. 


describes  it  under  the  name  of  Indian  Lettuce.*  The  time  of  flower- 
ing of  the  columbo,  is  in  May,  June,  and  July. 

From  a variation  in  the  number  of  parts  of  the  flower  and  other 
circumstances,  it  is  asserted  by  the  editor  of  the  article  Frasera,  in 
Rees’s  Encyclopaedia,  to  be  the  Swertia  difformis,  of  Linnaeus ; and 
Pursh  remarks  that  the  genus  is  so  nearly  allied  to  Swertia,  that 
without  seeing  the  fruit,  the  plant  might  readily  be  mistaken  for  a 
species  of  that  genus.  It  is  said  by  Dr.  Barton, f that  “ flowers  with 
five  stamens  are  very  frequently  met  with,  and  six  stamens  occasion- 
ally occur.”  In  the  specimens  in  my  possession,  for  which  I am  in- 
debted to  Dr.  Drake,  of  Cincinnati,  the  stamens  are  uniformly  four. 


CHEMICAL  PROPERTIES. 


The  following  is  an  account  of  the  experiments  made  with  the  root 
by  Dr.  Daniel  Drake,  of  Cincinnati,  with  a view  to  ascertain  the  com- 
parative qualities  of  the  Frasera,  and  the  officinal  columbo.  “This  root, 
(F.  Walteri)  gives  out  its  bitterness  both  to  aqueous  and  alcoholic 
menstrua,  but  more  fully  to  the  latter ; the  reverse  of  which  is  the 

science;  and  to  him,  the  late  Professor  Barton,  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  Wilson,  the  orni- 
thologist, and  many  others,  have  been  largely  indebted  for  much  useful  information. 
*See  his  Travels,  p.  42.  fFl.  Virg. 


Frasera  Walteri. 


109 


case  with  the  columbo.  Its  spirituous  tincture  sutlers  decomposition 
upon  the  addition  of  water,  indicating  that  it  contains  resin,  which 
the  columbo  does  not,  at  least  in  any  considerable  quantity ; and  the 
addition  of  a decoction  or  tincture  of  galls  to  its  watery  or  spirituous 
infusion,  causes  no  precipitate  of  cinchonin,  one  of  the  chief  consti- 
tuents of  columbo.”*  (For  further  chemical  results,  see  Appendix.) 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  root  of  Frasera  is  a pure,  powerful  and  excellent  bitter,  desti- 
tute of  aroma.  It  is  said  to  be  not  at  all  inferior  to  the  gentian  or 
columbo  of  the  shops,  and  is  equal  to  any  of  the  common  tonic  bit- 
ters used  in  medicine.  In  its  recent  state  it  is  said  to  possess  consi- 
derable emetic  and  cathartic  powers.f  I have  been  informed  that  it  is 
extensively  used  in  the  western  states,  and  that  it  supports  its  repu- 
tation wherever  it  is  generally  known.  I have  never  used  the  plant 
in  any  way,  and  consequently  can  say  nothing  from  experience  on 
the  subject.  The  late  Professor  Barton  shewed  me  some  slices  of  the 
dried  root  several  years  ago,  but  the  quantity  he  possessed  was  not 
sufficient  to  enable  him  to  make  any  extensive  trials  with  it.  It  may 
be  used  in  powder,  decoction,  infusion,  and  tincture. 


Picture  of  Cincinnati. 


f Ibid. 


110 


Frasera  Walteri. 


TABLE  XXXT. 

Fig.  l.  Represents  a whorl  of  leaves,  and  a flowering  branch  of  the 
Frasera  Walteri. 

3.  The  capsules. 

3.  A seed. 

(All  the  size  of  nature.) 


N.  B.  The  drawing  from  which  the  plate  was  engraved,  was  made 
from  good  dried  specimens,  which  I received  from  Dr.  Drake  ; the 
colouring  of  the  flowers  is  imitated  from  a sketch  made  in  a letter, 
by  Dr.  William  Short,  of  Kentucky,  in  the  faithfulness  of  whose  pencil 
I have  much  reliance.  The  uncoloured  whorl  of  leaves  is  an  exact 
copy  of  Dr.  Short’s  outline  sketch,  made  with  a pen. 


' 


Tan  ns  r.  lallojicc,  TCcarnv,  ScCo.Sc. 


JJmwfi  from  JVatiur  hv  W.  J~‘  C.  Harlan  . 


Fiy. 


IF IES. ASIES  IIS.  ,i\\  WTIIXTTTir  IhjiTFRlT 
(Imencffn  Columndbo .) 


POLYGALA  SENEKA. 


SENEKA  SNAKE-ROOT. 


Rattlesnake-root.  Senega  Rattlesnake-root.  Officinal  Milk-wort,  or  Rattlesnake* 

root,  in  England. 

Germ.  Giftwiderstchende  Polygala.  (Willd.)  Senegawurz.  Klapper-schlangenwurZ. 
French.  Polygale  de  Virginie ; Seneka;  Racine  de  serpent  a sonnettes. 

PoltgaIiA  seneka.  L.  Sp.  PI.  990.  Bot.  Mag.  t.  1051.  Mill.  Ph.  Diet.  ed.  vii.  t.  5. 
Repr.  in  ed.  viii.  at  Art.  Polygala.  Hort.  Kew.  iii.  6.  Walt.  178.  Wood. 
Med.  Bot.  253.  t.  93.  Thornt.  629.  Gron.  Yirg.  ed.  1.  80.  L.  Am.  ii.  139. 
t.  2.  at  p.  141.  f.  2.  Pharm.  Lond.  Archer,  account  from,  in  Phys.  Jour, 
i.  83.  106.  Chir.  Rev.  vi.  194,  and  Underw.  1.  336.  Bang,  in  Act.  Haun.  1. 
20.  Ill,  112.  257.  Callisen,  ib.  73.  Chaim,  ii.  115.  Darw.  ii.  392,  and  398. 
Bree,  258.  Cull.  ii.  532.  Lem.  Duham.  and  Juss.  account  from,  in  Med.  Ess. 
vi.  377.  Spielm.  581.  GeofFr.  ii.  137.  Haen.  i.  357.  Hill.  630.  Lew.  ii.  240. 
Pharm.  Lond.  Noviss.  Mackenzie,  in  Med.  Obs.  ii.  288.  Monro,  iii.  257. 
Perciv.  T.  in  Med.  Jour.  iv.  67.  Repr.  in  Perciv.  T.  ii.  395.  Und.  1.  338. 
Bang,  in  Act.  Haun.  1.  239.  254,  255  ; ii.  41.  51.  Berg.  595.  Carth.  ii.  435. 
Linn.  200.  Murr.  ii.  436.  Ploucq.  Bibl.  1.  661.  Schoepf,  110.  Yog.  226. 
Pharm.  Edin.  Stoke.  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  iii.  500.  Bart.  Collec.  3d.  ed.  par.  1.  p. 


112 


Polygala  seneka. 


26.  32.  34.  56.  par.  2.  p.  37.  Cassel,  account  from,  in  Med.  Rev.  iv.  44.  Lew. 
Disp.  by  Dune.  284.  Massie,  account  from,  in  Cliir.Rev.xiv.  63.  Murr.  J.i.  331 ; 
ii.  46.  Pears.  R.  i.  152.  230.  256.  Arch,  account  from,  in  Ann.  Med.  iv.  511. 
and  Med.  Rev.  iii.  426.  Scot.  J.  ib.  313.  Lew.  Juss.  and  Bouvart,  in  Ac.  Soc. 
abr.  by  Souther,  iii.  297.  Tenant.  Disp.  of  Virginia,  and  account  from,  in 
Med.  Ess.  vi.  376.  Graing.  66.  Rush,  v.  176.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  p.  348. 
Coxe’s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  500.  Thach.  Disp.  3d.  ed.  p.  319.  Barton’s  Cull.  ii.  370. 
390.  411.  Mulil.  Cat.  66.  Mich.  FI.  Boreali-Am.  ii.  53.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep. 
ii.  464.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  ii.  87.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  3.  p.  894.  Raj.  Suppl.  640. 
Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  8.  p.  490.  Drake’s  Piet.  Cin.  p.  87.  Chapman’s 
Element.  Ther.  and  Mat.  Med^Vol.  l.p.  270.  Pharm.  Mass.  Med.  Soc.  26. 


POLY  GALA. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  n.  1154. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Pediculares.  Classis  VIII.  Ordo  II. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Lovientaceae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Diadelphia.  Ordo  Octandria. 

Cal.  5-phyllusj  foliolis  duobus  alseformibus,  coloratis.  Legumen  obcordatum,  bilocu- 
lare. 

Polygala,  T.  L.*  Calix  5-partitus,  laciniis  2-longe  majoribus  alseformibus  ssepe  co- 
loratis. Corolla  convoluta  in  tubum  supra  fissum,  limbo  2-labiatum,  labio  supe- 
riore  2-partito  fisso,  inferiore  concavo  subtus  barbato  aut  imberbi,  intus  obte- 
gente  stamina  8 in  duas  lasces  collecta;  antherse  1-loculares.  Stigma  sub- 
bifidum.  Capsula  compressa  obcordata.  Herbae  aut  frutices ; folia  plerumque 
alterna ; florcs  1-3-bracteolati,  alterni,  laxe  aut  dense  spicati,  terminales. 
Fructus  P.  spinosae  baccatus  et  ramuli  pungentes.  Calix  P.  Heisteriae  5-par- 
titus  sequalis,  corolla  non  fissa,  germen  4-corne. 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  99. 


Poly  gala  seneka. 


113 


Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  inferior,  permanent,  small,  five  unequal,  ovate,  acute  leaves : 
two  of  them  below  the  corolla ; one  above  it ; and  two  very  large,  flat,  colour- 
ed, like  wings,  at  the  sides.  Cor.  imperfectly  papilionaceous.  Standard  tubular, 
nearly  cylindrical,  short,  its  mouth  reflexed,  small,  cloven.  Keel  concave,  com- 
pressed, swelling  towards  the  extremity,  near  to  which  are  attached,  for  the 
most  part,  two  feathery  three-cleft  appendages.  Stam.  Filaments  eight,  in  two 
sets,  both  united,  contained  within  the  keel ; anthers  eight,  simple.  Pist.  Ger- 
men  oblong,  superior;  style  simple,  erect ; stigma  terminal,  tumid,  cloven. 
Peric.  Capsule  turbinate,  somewhat  heart-shaped,  compressed,  sharp-edged, 
with  two  cells  and  two  valves,  bursting  on  each  side  at  the  edges,  thejjartition 
contrary  to  the  valves.  Seeds  solitary,  ovate,  with  a glandular  scar.  Ency. 

Poly gala  Seneka;  caulibus  erectis  simplicissimis  foliosis,  foliis  alternis  lanceolatis, 
spica  terminali  filiformi,  floribus  alternis.  Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Stems  erect,  quite  simple,  leafy ; leaves  alternate,  lanceolate ; spike  terminal,  slen- 
der ; flowers  alternate. 

SYNONYMA. 

Plantula  Marilandica,  caule  non  ramoso,  &c.  Raj. 

Poly gala  floribus  imberbis  spicatis,  &c.  Gron. 

Poly  gala  Virginiana.  Lem.  Juss.  and  Bouvart. 

Seneka,  of  many  medical  writers,  as  quoted  in  the  list  of  references. 

Rattlesnake  root  of  Tennant. 

Senega  Rattlesnake-root  of  Graing. 

PH  ARM, 

Off.  The  root. 

Radix  Polygalse  Senegse.  Edin. 

Senegas  Radix.  Lond. 

Seneke  Radix.  Dub. 


YOL.  II. 


15 


114 


Polygala  seneka. 


This  humble  plant  is  deservedly  esteemed  one  of  the  first  me- 
dicines  in  point  of  importance,  native  to  our  country.  The  genus 
to  which  it  belongs  is  very  extensive,  containing  more  than  one  hun- 
dred species.*  It  is  an  ancient  name,  compounded  of  two  Greek 
words,  much , and  y* a*,  milk,  in  allusion  to  the  reputation  of 
the  effect  of  the  plant  on  cattle  that  feed  on  it.  But  at  this  time  it 
is  not  known  what  is  the  precise  plant  supposed  to  be  endued  with 
such  virtues.  The  root  of  Polygala  seneka  is  irregularly  shaped, 
contorted,  gibbous,  and  ligneous;  covered  with  a thick  dull  yellowish 
or  greyish  bark.  Several  stems  arise  from  one  root.  They  are  leafy, 
slender,  simple,  erect,  terete,  of  a dull  brown  purple  colour  below, 
and  greenish  towards  the  top;  and  are  from  ten  to  fourteen  inches 
high.  The  leaves  are  alternate,  lanceolate,  acuminate,  somewhat 
undulate,  smooth,  and  supported  on  short  petioles.  Towards  the  base 
they  are  smaller,  and  inclined  to  ovate.  The  flowers  are  borne  alter- 
nately on  a slender  terminal  spike.  They  are  papilionaceous,  and 
though  generally  white,  are  often  tinged  with  dull  purple,  and  some- 
times faint  yellow.  The  calix  consists  of  three  short  teeth,  two  in- 
ferior, and  one  superior,  in  relation  to  the  corolla.  Michaux  and 
Pursh  describe  two  distinct  varieties,  one  of  which  they  call  *.  albida  ; 
having  lanceolate  or  oval  leaves,  with  a somewhat  crowded  spike  of 

* “Europe  affords  six,  South  and  Tropical  America  as  far  as  Buenos  Ayres  twenty- 
four,  Barbary  and  the  Levant  four,  Siberia  two,  Guinea  two,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
produces  twenty-four,  many  of  them  ornamental  shrubs,  India  and  China  thirteen,  one 
in  Japan,  one  in  Arabia  Felix,  and  several  others  of  uncertain  locality.”  Nutt 
2 


Polygala  seneka. 


115 


white  sub-sessile  flowers.  The  other  j3.  rosea , which  is  either  smooth- 
ish  or  pubescent ; having  linear  leaves,  a loose  alternate-flowered 
spike,  and  rose-coloured  flowers.  *.  grows  from  Canada  throughout 
the  Allegheny  mountains,  p.  in  Carolina  and  Georgia.  The  plant 
is  generally  found  on  the  sides  of  hills  and  in  dry  woods.  It  is  abund- 
ant in  Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  Tennessee,  and  flowers  from  June  to 
August.  It  was  cultivated  in  England  as  early  as  1759,  by  Philip 
Miller,  and  is  still  found  at  Kew  Garden  and  other  botanic  grounds. 

CHEMICAL  PROPERTIES. 

To  the  taste,  the  root  is  bitter,  pungent,  subtle  and  peculiar ; but 
it  has  little  or  no  smell.  Both  aqueous,  and  spirituous  menstrua  ex- 
tract its  virtue ; but  the  alcoholic  tincture  obtains  them  most  com- 
pletely. The  powder  in  substance,  however,  is  generally  believed  to  be 
more  active  than  either  the  tincture  or  decoction.  The  latter  when 
first  taken  are  not  peculiarly  unpleasant,  but  speedily  stimulate  the 
mouth  and  fauces,  and  produce  a free  discharge  from  the  salivary 
glands.  A tincture  of  the  root  in  rectified  spirit,  was  formerly  in 
great  repute  ; and  it  was  said  to  be  more  active  and  permanent  in  its 
effects  It  is  now  disused.  It  has  been  said,  and  perhaps  not  without 
foundation,  that  the  bark  of  the  root  contains  most  of  the  active 
power  of  the  plant ; and  that  the  ligneous  portion  is  comparatively 
inert.  To  this  opinion  Dr.  Cullen  inclines,  though  at  the  same  time 


116 


Polygala  seneka. 


he  says  the  whole  root  has  commonly  been  used  without  regard  to  this 
difference  inthepovver  of  its  different  parts.  Murray  relates  the  results 
of  analyses  carefully  made  of  the  root  of  this  plant,  by  those  who  have 
written  on  it.  But  from  them  we  learn  nothing  remarkable,  except 
that  the  aqueous  is  more  abundant  than  the  resinous  extract ; 
though  the  ligneous  part  of  the  root  yields  sufficiently,  a resin,  a 
mucilage,  65c. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  Seneka  snake-root  possesses  various  medicinal  virtues.  It  is 
stimulant,  diuretic,  sialagogue,  expectorant,  purgative,  emetic  and 
sudorific ; and  of  late  years  it  is  esteemed  a valuable  emenagogue.  Dr. 
Cullen  has  treated  of  it,  both  under  the  head  of  cathartics,  and  under 
that  of  diuretics.  Dr.  Barton,  in  his  edition  of  Cullen,  has  assigned  it 
a place  under  the  head  of  emcnagogues,  and  Dr.  Chapman,  under 
the  head  of  stimulating  diuretics,  as  well  as  under  the  head  of  expec- 
torants and  emenagogues.  Its  purgative  effect  was  regarded  by  Dr. 
Cullen  as  its  true  characteristic ; and  under  the  opinion  that  it  was 
'most  salutary,  when  it  produced  copious  evacuations,  he  arranged  it 
under  the  head  of  cathartics.  From  this  opinion  many  respectable 
physicians  dissent. 

It  is  now  more  than  eighty  years,  (1735)  since  Dr.  John  Tennant 
invited  the  attention  of  physicians  to  this  medicine,  as  an  antidote 


Polygala  seneka. 


117 


against  the  bite  of  the  rattle-snake.  In  an  extensive  intercourse  with 
the  Indian  nations  of  our  country,  it  appears  that,  induced  by  the 
offer  of  alluring  rewards,  he  obtained  from  the  Senagaroos,  a disclo- 
sure of  their  secret  remedy  for  this  accident,  or  the  disease  arising 
in  consequence  of  it.  According  to  their  practice,  it  was  applied  ex- 
ternally and  internally,  either  chewed  and  applied  to  the  wound,  or 
in  the  form  of  cataplasm.  Dr.  Tennant  himself  saw,  or  thought  he 
saw,  beneficial  effects  from  the  root  of  this  medicine  in  cases  of  this 
kind.  He  inferred  from  the  similarity  of  those  symptoms  which  su- 
pervened on  the  poison  of  the  rattlesnake,  to  those  of  pleurisy, 
that  the  medicine  would  prove  beneficial  in  that  disease.  He  accord- 
ingly recommended  it,  and  it  has  been  much  used,  and  with  repeat- 
ed good  effect,  in  peripneumonic  cases.  The  most  prominent  of 
the  physicians  who  have  borne  testimony  in  favour  of  its  powers 
in  those  cases,  are  Bouvart,  De  Jussieu,  Lemery,  and  Duhamel.  Sir 
Francis  Millman,  Dr.  Percival,  and  others,  have  spoken  highly  of  it 
as  a diuretic  in  dropsies.  Of  late  years  the  Seneka  has  been  much 
used  in  croup,  and  numerous  well  attested  instances  of  its  beneficial 
effects  are  to  be  found  in  various  publications.  The  credit  of  discover- 
ing the  efficacy  of  the  root  in  this  complaint,  is  due  to  Dr.  Archer,* 
of  Maryland,  who,  confessedly,  was  the  first  person  that  proposed  its 
use  in  that  distressing  malady.  The  late  Dr.  Barton,  on  this  subject 
says  “ from  my  own  experience  I am  led  to  repose  more  confidence 


* See  Medical  Repository,  New  York,  vol.  ii.  n.  1.  art.  viL 


118 


Polygala  seneka. 


in  the  use  of  this  medicine  (in  croup)  than  in  any  other.’’* * * §  The  sali- 
vating property  of  seneka  has  been  long  known,  and  the  instances  of 
this  effect  being  succeeded  by  its  use,  are  numerous  and  authentic.  Its 
expectorant  power  has  caused  it  to  be  used  in  cases  of  typhus  with 
pneumonic  symptoms,  and  with  considerable  success,  greatly  pro- 
moting, by  stimulating  the  lungs,  the  expectoration  of  mucus.  “ Dr. 
Brandreth,  of  Liverpool,  has  derived  great  benefit  in  some  cases  of 
lethargy,  from  an  extract  of  seneka  combined  with  carbonate  of 
ammonia.’’!  That  it  acts,  occasionally,  with  much  vigour  as  a sudo- 
rific, seems  beyond  disputation  ; but  I cannot  mention  without  some 
apprehension  of  raising  a smile,  the  marvellous  effect  said  to  have 
been  produced  on  the  blacks  who  have  used  it.  Dr.  Barton  mentions 
that  he  “ has  been  assured  it  has  been  known  to  remove  portions  of 
the  mucous  body  or  rete  mucosum  from  their  skin.”!  According  to 
the  doctor,  the  Indians  use  a decoction  of  this  root  in  syphilis,  and  in 
malignant  sore-throat.  We  are  told  by  Dr.  Woodville,  that  “ the  re- 
pute which  this  root  obtained  in  peripneumonic  affections,  induced 
some  to  employ  it  in  other  inflammatory  disorders,  in  which  it 
proved  serviceable,  particularly  in  rheumatism. The  notion  that  this 


* Collections. 

f Edinburgh  Disp.  by  Dyck.  p.  348. 

\ Collections. 

§ Med.  Bot.  vol.  2.  p.  255.  Com.  Novic.  1741.  p.  363.  Sarcone  Geschichte  de 
Kraukh.  in  Neapel,  tom.  1.  p.  108.  169.  173.  199. 


Polygala  seneka. 


119 


root  possesses  the  power  of  rendering  the  siziness  of  the  blood  more 
fluid,  has  been  satisfactorily  refuted  by  De  Haen  ;*  and  does  really 
seem  to  be  entitled  to  no  serious  attention. 

From  this  summary  of  its  virtues  and  effects,  it  will  be  seen  that 
the  seneka  is  a medicine  of  no  common  powers ; but  on  adverting 
to  what  is  manifestly  the  most  prominent  effect  of  its  operation,  its 
stimulant  power,  we  cannot  but  be  struck  with  the  impropriety  of 
administering  it  in  the  first  stages  of  inflammatory  disorders,  such 
as  pleurisy  and  croup ; for  the  latter  cannot  be  considered  purely 
spasmodic.  In  these  cases,  unless  the  lancet  has  been  freely  used, 
the  seneka  cannot,  I apprehend,  be  safely  given.  It  is  a stimulant 
of  a very  searching  nature,  influencing  besides  the  circulation  of  the 
blood,  the  lymphatic  and  secretory  organs  in  a powerful  and  peculiar 
manner.  It  does  not  really  appear  that  it  has  ever  cured  true  pleu- 
risy; neither  has  the  lancet  been  omitted  in  most  of  the  cases  of  cy- 
nanche  trachealis,  in  which  it  has  proved  serviceable:  and  it  may  be 
questioned,  whether  Dr.  Archer  has  insisted  enough  on  the  propriety 
of  blood-letting,  prior  to  the  extensive  use  of  the  seneka  in  croup. 
He  recommends  a strong  decoction  of  the  root  in  this  disease,  which 
acts  as  an  emetic,  cathartic,  and  expectorant.  The  decoction  is  made 
from  half  an  ounce  of  the  bruised  or  coarsely  powdered  root,  and  eight 
ounces  of  water,  boiled  over  a slow  fire  down  to  half  the  quantity. 
Of  this  decoction  he  gives  a tea-spoonful  every  half  hour,  or  every 


* Ratio  Medendi,  par.  4.  p.  252. 


ISO 


Polygala  seneka. 


hour,  according  as  the  urgency  of  the  symptoms  may  indicate ; and 
at  intervals,  a few  drops  to  keep  up  the  stimulus,  until  the  medicine 
acts  on  the  stomach  or  bowels.  The  medicine  is  to  be  repeated  in 
diminished  quantities,  so  as  to  keep  up  a constant  stimulus  in  the 
throat  and  mouth.  This  practice  has  been  imitated  by  many  phy- 
sicians with  success.* 


*The  following  is  Dr.  Barton's  account  of  his  use  of  this  medicine  in  croup: 
“Since  the  beginning  of  the  year  1798,  I have  employed  a strong  decoction  of  this 
plant  in  several  cases  of  cynanche  trachealis,  or  hives.  I am  persuaded,  that  the  se- 
neka is  a very  important  medicine  in  the  treatment  of  this  common,  and  too  frequently 
unmanageable,  disease;  and  praise,  in  my  opinion,  is  due  to  Dr.  Archer,  for  his  im- 
portant discovery  ; for  such  I cannot  but  deem  it.  That  the  seneka  is  a specific,  or 
certain  remedy,  for  the  cure  of  the  croup,  1 do  not  believe : but,  from  my  own  experi- 
ence, I am  led  to  repose  more  confidence  in  the  use  of  this  medicine  than  in  any  other. 
I have  made  use  of  a very  strong  or  saturated  decoction  of  the  root.  I have  always  given 
it  in  large  quantities.  It  appears  to  be  chiefly  beneficial,  when  it  occasions  an  expecto- 
ration of  mucus,  and  when  it  proves  emetic.  It  is  also  very  useful  by  virtue  of  its  pur- 
gative quality.  But  I have  known  it  to  occasion  very  plentiful  stools,  without  benefiting 
the  patient.  Indeed,  in  the  exhibition  of  the  seneka,  I would  rather  wish  to  guard  against 
large  purging.  I have  sometime  treated  my  patients  almost  entirely  with  the  seneka. 
Even  in  such  cases,  I have  perceived  most  unequivocal  good  effects  from  it.  But  I have, 
more  generally,  given,  along  with  the  seneka,  calomel,  and  sometimes  calomel  com- 
bined with  ipecacuanha.  I have  not  omitted  the  employment  of  the  lancet,  (though  this, 
in  many  cases  of  croup,  is  not  absolutely  necessary,)  and  the  use  of  blisters,  or  sina- 
pisms, applied  near  to  the  seat  of  the  disease.  I am  happy  to  close  this  short  notice  by 
observing,  that  several  respectable  physicians  in  Philadelphia  inform  me,  that  they  have 
used  the  seneka,  with  much  advantage,  in  the  disease  in  question.” 


Polygala  seneka. 


121 


It  is  a common  practice  to  combine  calomel  with  the  seneka,  and 
also  Virginian  snake-root.  In  union  with  the  latter,  I have  seen  much 
good  effect  from  it  in  typhoid  pneumonia.  When  combined  with 
calomel,  it  should  be  reduced  to  powder,  and  made  into  boluses,  of 
which  the  dose  is,  for  an  adult,  about  a scruple  three  or  four  times  a 
day.  The  dose  of  the  powdered  root  alone,  is  from  thirty  grains  to 
two  scruples ; but  as  in  this  form  it  is  apt  to  operate  as  a purgative,  and 
sometimes  as  an  emetic,  it  is  preferred  to  give  the  decoction,  which 
may  be  made  by  boiling  an  ounce  of  the  root  in  a pound  and  an  half 
of  water,  till  it  is  reduced  to  a pound ; and  of  this  a table-spoonful  is 
a dose,  frequently  repeated. 

The  discovery  of  the  valuable  emenagogue  virtues  of  the  seneka, 
originated  many  years  ago,  with  my  friend  Dr.  Hartshorne,  an  emi- 
nent surgeon  of  this  city,  whose  experience,  and  habits  of  searching- 
observation  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  warrant  me  in  quoting 
him  as  authority  of  the  highest  value.  From  him  I have  recently 
learned  the  following  facts : that  he  still  continues  to  prescribe  the 
seneka  in  amenorrhcea,  with  unimpaired  confidence,  resulting  from 
much  experience  with  its  peculiar,  (perhaps  specific)  operation  in  this 
disease.  He  has  prescribed  it  many  times,  when  the  suppression  of 
the  catamenia  was  of  very  longstanding,  but  in  these  cases  its  efficacy 
seems  less  conspicuous  than  in  more  recent  cases.  His  usual  mode 
of  administering  it,  is  in  saturated  decoction,  to  the  extent  of  a pint  in 
twenty -four  hours,  commencing  about  two  weeks  previous  to  the 

16 


VOL.  II. 


Polygalci  seneka. 


i O =) 

1<VV 

expected  menstrual  period;  and  he  has  found  it  most  efficacious  when 
the  system  was  prepared  for  its  operation,  during  the  two  preceding 
weeks,  by  the  administration  of  calomel,  so  as  to  produce  a gentle 
ptyalism.  The  doctor  has  also  used  the  seneka  in  these  cases  in  sub- 
stance, but  prefers  the  saturated  decoction.  When  the  cases  are  of 
very  long  standing,  one,  two,  or  three  years,  he  is  in  the  habit  of  reite- 
rating the  practice  as  above  detailed,  with  this  exception,  that  he  does 
not  continue  the  use  of  the  seneka  during  the  whole  period,  because 
of  the  disgust  it  is  under  such  circumstances  apt  to  produce,  by  its 
nauseating  tendency.  At  the  instance  of  Dr.  Hartshorne,  this  article 
was  tried  in  amenorrhcea,  some  years  ago,  by  Professor  Chapman* 
and  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms*  of  his  success. f 

* See  his  Elements  of  Therapeutics  and  Materia  Medica,  vol.  ii.  article  Polygala 
seneka,  under  the  head  of  Emenagogucs. 

fit  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  the  credit  of  this  important  discovery  of  the  eme- 
nagoguc  powers  of  the  seneka,  has  not  been  given,  by  either  Dr.  Thacher, or  Dr. 
Coxc,  who  copies  and  quotes  the  doctor,  to  him,  to  whom  alone  it  is  due ; and  it  is  but  just 
to  remark,  that  though  in  the  publications  of  Drs.  Thacher  and  Coxe,||  the  name  of  Dr. 
Chapman  is  alone  mentioned  in  relation  to  this  subject,  yet  the  latter  gentleman  has, 
in  two  publications§  on  the  seneka,  not  only  acknowledged  Dr.  Hartshorne  as  first 
pointing  out  this  peculiar  effect  of  the  seneka,  but  gives  him  all  due  credit  for  the 
discovery.  These  observations  are  made  with  a firm  belief,  that  Dr.  Hartshorne’s 
name  is  inadvertently  omitted  in  the  publications  of  Thacher  and  Coxe ; and  with  a 
design,  by  rendering  unto  Caesar  the  things  "which  are  Caesar’s,  to  affix  the  merit  due  on 
this  occasion,  to  an  unassuming  man  of  great  merit,  whose  modesty  would  never  suffer 
him  to  speak  or  write  himself  on  the  subject  of  any  claim,  wrested  from  him  by  inad- 
vertence or  design. 

t Dispensatory,  3d.  ed.  I!  Dispensatory,  3d.  ed. 

§ Eclectic  Repertory.  Elements  of  Thera,  and  Materia  Medica,  1818.  2d.  vol. 


Polygala  seneka. 


12  3 


I may  here  not  impertinently  remark,  that  in  the  treatment  of  a re- 
cent case*  of  hydrophobia,  under  my  care,  I prescribed  the  Polygala 
seneka  in  pills,  of  the  pulverized  root,  and  in  powders,  under  the 
impression,  that  in  this  fatal  and  mysterious  malady,  the  prominent 
feature  of  which  is  the  distressing  affection  of  the  pharynx  and  larynx, 
and  an  extreme  difficulty  of  expectorating  the  great  quantity  of  vis- 
cid mucous  with  which  the  trachea  seems  choaked  up — it  might 
prove  serviceable.  I was  led  to  this  practice  from  the  analogy  of  its 
effects  in  croup,  as  detailed  by  Dr.  Archer : and  though  in  the  short 
continuance  of  this  disease,  which  ran  its  terrific  and  fatal  course  in 
less  than  two  entire  days,  I had  but  little  opportunity  of  coming  to 
any  decided  conclusion  on  the  effect  of  the  seneka ; still  I ought  to 
remark,  that  it  promoted  expectoration  very  freely.  It  was  adminis- 
tered but  for  three  hours,  and  not  to  any  great  extent.  In  a disease 
so  direful  in  its  symptoms  and  so  universally  fatal  in  its  effect,  it  is  a 
matter  of  no  inconsiderable  importance  to  seek  alleviating  remedies. 
I would  therefore  propose  the  free  use  of  the  seneka  in  cases  of  hy- 
drophobia, with  a view  to  its  specific  or  remarkable  operation  on  the 
apparent  seat  of  this  malady,  the  lungs,  trachea  and  larynx  ; and 
should  another  case  ever  occur  in  my  practice,  I shall  lose  no  time  in 
the  administration  of  a remedy  so  powerfully  affecting  these  organs. 

* Of  this  case,  which  occurred  between  the  28th  and  30th  of  the  present  month, 
(November,)  and  which  supervened  upon  the  bite  of  a rabid  dog,  I have  drawn  up  a de- 
tailed account,  which  is  to  be  soon  published  in  one  of  our  periodical  journals. 


124 


Poly  gala  seneka. 


TABLE  XXXVI. 

Fig.  l.  Represents  a plant  of  the  Polygala  seneka  in  flower. 

2.  The  root. 

3.  The  calix. 

4.  5,  6,  7,  and  8.  The  different  parts  of  the  papilionaceous 

corolla. 


(All  the  size  of  nature.) 


Eg  2 


IP  (!))  TT^iY (Fn-.f^TL  a^\  IKiTK"  c\ » 


j S cnfcka  Snake  -i?©  ©t  *) 


EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 


BONE-SET.  THOROUGH-WORT, 


Thorough-stem.  Vegetable  Antimony.  Cross-wort.  Indian  Sage.  Thorough-wax. 

“ Ague-weed,”  of  the  Indians. 

Germ.  Durchwachsener  Wasserdost.  ( [Willd .) 

Eupatoritjm  perfoliatum.  L.  Sp.  PI.  1174.  Hort.  Cliff.  396.  Hort.  Ups.  253.  Roy. 
Lugdb.  156.  Gron.  Virg.  119.  Cold.  Noveb.  181.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  8.  Pluk. 
Aim.  140.  t.  87.  f.  6.  Raj.  Suppl.  189.  Morris.  Hist.  iii.  p.  97.  Houttuyn.  Lin. 
Pfl.  Syst.  iv.  p.  243.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  iii.  p.  1761.  Mich.  FI.  Am.  Boreal,  ii.  p. 
99.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  ii.  p.  516.  Hort.  Kew.  iii.  160.  Cutler,  478.  Stokes’s 
Bot.  Mat.  Med.  iv.  p.  171.  Guthrie,  in  Ann.  Med.  iii.  403.  Schoepf,  Mat. 
Med.  Am.  121.  Bart.  Collections,  3d.  ed.  part  i.  p.  28.  55.  part  ii.  p.  22. 
Anderson,  Inaug.  Diss.  (New  York,  1813.)  Thach.  Disp.  3d.  ed.p.  220.  Coxe’s 
Disp.  ed.  3d.  p.  317.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  p.  264.  415.  Chapman’s  Element.  Mat. 
Med.  and  Thera,  vol.  i.  p.  343.  ii.  p.  415.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  77.  Comp.  FI. 
Ph.  ii.  p.  101.  Big.  Florula  Bost.  p.  190.  Muhl.  Cat.  PI.  Am.  Sep.  p.  74. 
Pursh,  in  Medical  and  Physical  Journal.  Big.  Am.  Med.  Bot.  p.  33.  Bart. 
Med.  and  Phys.  Jour.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  ii.  p.  135. 

17 


VOL.  II. 


126 


Eupatorium  perfoliatiim . 


EUPATORIUM. 

Gen.  PI.  1272. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Corymbiferae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Compositae  discoideae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Syngenesia.  Ordo  Polygamia  aequalis. 

Eupatorium,  T.  L.*  Eupatoire.  Flores  flosculosi.  Calix  imbricatus  iniequaiis  oblon- 
gus  cylindricus  pauciflorus.  Pappus plumosus.  Caulis  frutescens  aut  herbaceus, 
interdum  scandens ; folia  in  plurimis  opposita,  in  paucis  verticillata  aut  alter- 
na;  floressfepe  corymbosi  terminales  aut  axilla  res,  purpurascentes.  Species  quae- 
dam  Linnaeanae  calice  polyphyllo  simplici  non  imbricato,  Cacaliae  affiniores  ex 
D.  Lamark  ; quaedam  pappo  piloso.  An  congener  Critonia  Brown.  Jam.  t.  34. 
f.  1.,  cui  ex  Autore  calix  '4-florus,  pappus  ramosus,  caetera  similia  ? 

Juss.  Gen.  PI.  cd.  1789.  p.  178. 

Gen.  Ch.  Common  Calix  oblong,  imbricated  ; scales  linear-lanceolate,  erect,  unequal, 
unarmed.  Cor.  Compound,  uniform,  discoid ; florets  all  uniform,  perfect,  fer- 
tile, monopetalous,  funnel-shaped,  with  a regular  5-cleft  spreading  border. 
Stam.  Filaments  five,  capillary,  very  short ; anthers  united  into  a cylindrical 
tube.  Fist.  Germen  minute ; style  thread-shaped,  very  long,  cloven,  slender, 
bluntish,  straight.  Peric.  None,  except  the;  permanent  calix.  Seeds  solitary, 
oblong,  angular ; down  long,  rough  or  feathery.  Recep.  naked. 

Ess.  Ch.  Receptacle  naked.  Down  rough  or  feathery.  Calix  imbricated,  oblong.  Style 
prominent,  cloven  halfway  down,  divaricated.  Ency. 

Recep.  Nudum.  Pappus  pilosus.  Cal.  imbricatus,  cylindricus.  Stylus  semibifidus, 
longus. 

Eupatorium  perfoliatum  ; foliis  connato-perfoliatis  oblongis  sursum  angustatis  ser- 
ratis,  rugosis,  subtus  tomentosis,  caule  villoso. — Willd.  and  Pursli. 

Leaves  connate-perfoliate,  oblong,  narrow  above,  serrate,  rough,  tomentose  be- 
neath ; stem  villous. 

2 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


127 


SYNONYM  A. 

Eupatorium  Virginianum,  Salvise  lbliis,  &o.  Pink. 

Eupatorium  foliis  connatis  tonicntosis.  Cutler, 

Eupatorium  connatum.  Mich. 

PHARM. 

Eupat.  perfol.  Herba  et  flores — the  flowers  and  leaves. 

The  subject  of  this  article  is  wholly  destitute  of  any  thing  like 
comliness,  but  is  a very  general  favourite  and  will  probably  always 
be  highly  esteemed,  for  its  medicinal  powers.  The  plant  which 
gave  name  to  the  very  extensive  genus  of  which  the  Bone-set  is 
a species,  is  the  e V7rx1  a p i oVy  of  Diosco rides,  from  Mithridates,  sur- 
named  Eupator,  who  is  reputed  to  have  brought  the  original  plant 
into  use  as  an  antidote  against  poisons.  Most  of  the  species,  of 
which  Willdenow  enumerates  seventy-one,  are  indigenous  to  Ame- 
rica. Pursh  describes  twenty-seven  as  natives  of  North  America ; 
and  others  will  be  found  extending  beyond  the  tropics  as  far  as 
Peru  and  Paraguay.  Those  indigenous  to  our  states,  are  all  plain 
looking  plants,  except  the  E.  ccelestinum,  the  beautiful  blue  flowers 
of  which  have  given  rise  to  the  appropriate  specific  name.  Many  of 
them,  however,  compensate  in  stature  for  what  they  want  in  beauty 


128 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


several  of  the  red-flowered  species  being  from  five  to  seven  feet 
high.  They  decorate  our  autumnal  landscapes,  by  the  profusion 
of  their  red  and  white  flowers,  and  by  the  abundance  in  which  they 
are  every  where  met  with. 

The  present  is  perhaps  one  of  the  commonest,  if  not  the  most 
common,  of  all  the  species  inhabiting  our  country;  being  found 
in  meadows,  damp  woods,  watery  thickets,  and  on  the  margins  of 
brooks,  rivulets  and  other  small  waters,  in  the  greatest  profusion — 
covering  indeed  occasionally,  whole  acres  of  ground.  It  is  peculiar 
to  North  America,  and  is  easily  distinguished  from  all  the  other  spe- 
cies, to  many  of  which  it  is  nearly  allied  by  its  general  habit  and  its 
flowers,  by  the  remarkable  structure  of  its  leaves,  which  decussate 
each  other  in  such  a manner  as  to  have  given  rise  to  the  appellation 
of  cross-wort.  It  may  also  be  readily  known  by  its  blistered  or  rugose 
leaves,  which  have  imposed  on  it  the  epithet  of  Indian  Sage.  But 
another  discriminating  mark  in  the  leaves,  arises  from  the  manner 
in  which  they  are  perforated  by  the  stem ; and  hence  the  vulgar 
names,  Thorough-wort  and  Thorough-wax. 

The  origin  of  the  common  name  bone-set , it  is  not  easy  to  as- 
certain ; though  a mere  suggestion  of  Professor  Barton  seems  to 
have  afforded  a late  writer  on  the  Materia  Medica  a hint  for  a 
derivation,  which  he  has  not  failed  to  avail  himself  of.  We  are 
told  by  this  gentleman,  upon  what  authority  other  than  his  own,  we  are 


Eupatoruim  perfoliatum. 


129 


left  to  conjecture,  that  the  plant  derived  the  name  of  bone-set  from 
the  relief  it  afforded  in  a certain  “ singular  catarrh  or  species  of  influ- 
enza,’’ which  prevailed  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  was  denominated 
break-bone-fever.  We  are  satisfied  the  Professor  would  find  it  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  shew  by  any  printed  testimony,  that  the  medici- 
nal powers  of  Eupatorium  perfoliatum  were  generally  known  even 
twenty,  much  less  thirty  years  ago,  or  that  the  vulgar  name,  bone- 
set,  is  of  earlier  origin  than  fifteen  years  back. 

The  root  is  perennial,  somewhat  horizontal.  The  stems  erect, 
from  two  to  four  feet  high,  round,  very  hairy,  (hair  flexuose,)  and  di- 
vided towards  the  top  into  decussating  branches,  so  as  to  form  when 
in  flower,  a flat  dense  fastigiate  corymb.  The  stem  is  generally 
greyish-green,  but  often  purplish  towards  the  base.  The  leaves  de- 
cussate each  other  at  regular  distances ; are  perfoliate,  or  perhaps 
connate,  broadest  at  their  base  or  point  of  union  with  the  stem,  and 
taper  gradually  into  a long  acumination.  They  are  serrate,  very  ru- 
gose or  wrinkled,  closely  beset  with  hairs  of  a grey  colour,  which, 
together  with  those  wherewith  the  stem,  and  indeed  nearly  the  whole 
plant  is  covered,  give  it  a greyish-green  aspect.  The  under  surface 
of  the  leaves  is  paler  than  the  upper,  and  both  woolly.  The  two  or 
three  upper  pairs  of  leaves  on  the  stems,  and  all  those  on  the 
branches,  are  given  off  in  pairs,  and  lose  the  perfoliate  or  connate 
character,  being  there  merely  sessile.  Flowers  terminal,  white,  sup- 
ported on  short  hairy  peduncles,  in  close  fastigiate  corymbs.  Calix 


130 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


imbricate  and  hirsutulous;  scales  lanceolate,  acute.  Florets  about 
twelve  or  fourteen.  Each  flower  tubulous,  divided  into  five  segments 
or  teeth,  as  represented  in  Fig.  3.  Anthers  deep  blue  or  black,  fila- 
ments five,  united  with  a fistulous  brace.  Seeds  prismatic,  attenuate 
at  the  base,  of  a crow-black  colour,  and  situated  on  a naked  receptacle. 
Pappus  or  clown  of  the  seed  pilose  ; hairs  scabrous.  The  flowers  are 
fully  expanded  in  the  month  of  August,  and  the  plant  is  everywhere 
found  in  bloom  during  the  autumn,  and  even  as  late  as  the  last  of  Oc- 
tober. 

CHEMICAL  PROPERTIES. 

We  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Andrew  Anderson,  for  an  excellent  che- 
mical analysis  of  this  species  of  Eupatorium.  According  to  his  expe- 
riments, it  appears,  that  it  contains  first : a free  acid — secondly,  tannin 
in  small  quantity — thirdly,  a bitter  extractive  matter — fourthly,  a gum- 
my matter — fifthly,  a resin — sixthly,  azote — seventhly,  lime,  proba- 
bly the  acetate  of  lime ; eighthly,  gallic  acid,  probably  modified ; 
ninthly,  a resiniform  matter  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  which 
seems  to  contain  a bitter  principle. 

The  medicinal  properties  of  bone-set  are  fully  given  out,  both  to 
aqueous  and  spirituous  menstrua.  Proof  spirit  digested  on  the  leaves 
and  flowers,  make  a fine  preparation  for  cases  which  will  bear  the 
spirit. 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


13  i 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

Great  indeed  is  the  renown  of  the  Eupatorium  perfoliatum,  as  a me- 
dicine, and  various  as  well  as  powerful  are  the  virtues  attributed  to  it. 
Should  a wide  extended  experience  justify,  in  future,  only  one-half  the 
encomiums  which  have  been  lavishly  bestowed  upon  it,  it  will  even 
then  be  entitled  to  a distinguished  rank  in  the  Materia  Medica.  It  is 
impossible  to  read  the  accounts  which  are  given  of  the  virtues  and 
effects  of  this  popular  medicine,  without  indulging  the  belief,  that  fa- 
vouritism, partiality,  or  fashion,  has  had  some  share  in  decorating  it 
out  for  public  view.  Believing  as  I do,  that  few  plants  of  our  country 
are  more  deserving  of  the  attention  of  physicians  than  this,  for  its 
real  virtues,  I regret  the  too  ready  adoption  from  vague  rumours,  of 
accounts  of  those  which  are  merely  imaginary,  and  which  may  lead, 
on  the  discovery  of  the  error,  to  limit  its  use,  or  to  its  total  rejection 
from  practice.  Notwithstanding  the  real,  the  obviously  beneficial  ef- 
fects, in  curing,  or  alleviating  diseases,  or  symptoms  of  diseases, 
which  belong  to  this  plant,  some  of  those  who  have  written  on  its 
properties,  have  needlessly  indulged  in  a vein  of  exaggeration,  wholly 
incompatible  with  the  reality,  and  calculated  to  bring  the  medicine 
sooner  or  later  into  disrepute.  I have  ventured  to  speak  thus  confi- 
dently on  this  subject,  because  as  it  is  a favourite  article  in  my  own 
practice,  I have  consequently  been  led  to  use  it  frequently  and  ex- 


133 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


tensively,  and  to  give  it  every  trial  which  a favourable  impression  of 
its  powers  would  induce  me  to  make.  The  result  has  been,  that 
while  I deem  its  properties  on  the  one  hand  much  exaggerated  and 
even  misrepresented  in  some  points  of  view,  I cannot  but  believe  on 
the  other,  that  it  is  a highly  important  article,  when  administered  in 
those  affections,  to  the  symptoms  of  which  its  peculiar  virtues  are  ap- 
plicable and  proper. 

Bone-set  has  been  represented  by  various  writers,  most  of  whom 
have  copied  after  others,  as  a tonic,  stimulant,  diaphoretic,  eme- 
tic, cathartic,  diuretic,  astringent,  and  deobstruent,*  as  capable  of 
curing  obstinate  cutaneous  affections,  yellow  fever,  petechial  orspotted 
fever,  rheumatism,  ^c.  §c.  thereby  leading  the  unwary  and  the  inex- 
perienced practitioner,  to  depend  too  much  on  its  reputed  powers. 

The  sensible  properties  of  bone-set  would  seem  to  point  out  its 
most  estimable  medicinal  powers.  The  whole  plant  is  intensely  bit- 
ter. It  is  also  possessed  of  some  slight  astringency.  When  dried  it 
has  a peculiar,  and  not  disagreeable  odour. 

The  leaves  and  flowers  according  to  some  writers  on  the  subject, 
contain  the  bitterness,  in  different  degrees  of  intensity.  The  late  Pro- 
fessor Barton  states  in  his  collections,  that  the  flowers  are  more  active 
than  the  leaves,  and  in  this  error,  Dr.  Chapman  has  copied  him.  Dr. 
Anderson  on  the  other  hand  asserts,  that  the  leaves  are  more  active 


183 


Eiipatorium  perfoliatum. 

than  the  flowers,  and  he  has  been  copied  by  Thacher,  Coxe,  and  others. 
Careful  practical  experiments  with  the  decoctions  and  infusions  of 
both  these  portions  of  the  plant,  in  similar  and  dissimilar  doses,  have 
led  me  to  form  the  opinion,  that  there  is  no  difference  in  the  bitter- 
ness or  activity  on  the  system,  between  the  leaves  and  flowers.  Both 
may  be  used  indiscriminately,  and  either  will  answer.  The  stems  also, 
allowing  for  the  proportion  of  medulla  which  enter  into  their  struc- 
ture, are  nearly  as  efficacious,  as  the  other  portions.  Consequently, 
the  whole  plant  may  be  safely  and  advantageously  used  for  medical 
purposes. 

I have  said  that  the  sensible  properties  of  the  bone-set  indicate 
its  medicinal  virtues;  and  it  appears  that  the  tonic  and  diapho- 
retic effects,  both  of  which  are  unequivocal  and  powerful,  are  those 
most  deserving  attention.  It  is  also  somewhat  stimulant,  but  this 
effect  is  transient;  and  perhaps  it  is  no  more  so  than  all  bitters  are, 
in  their  first  impression  on  the  system,  particularly  if  it  be  debilitated 
by  disease,  or  in  a state  of  excitement  from  fever.  It  is  certain  that 
it  has  been  successfully  prescribed  in  violent  catarrhs  attended  with 
some  fever,  and  its  stimulant  effect  has  not  been  so  considerable  as 
to  be  injurious  in  those  cases.  As  a tonic  bitter  it  has  been  long 
known  in  this  country,  and  the  Indians  are  said  to  have  used  it  in  the 
cure  of  intermittent  fevers ; we  are  even  told  by  the  late  Professor 
Barton,  that  they  recognize  it  by  a name  which  may  be  translated 


VOL.  II. 


18 


134 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


ague-weed.  Imitating  their  practice,  many  country  physicians  of 
respectability  use  it  as  a substitute  for  Peruvian  bark  in  these  affec- 
tions. Their  reports  are  uniformly  favourable  to  the  powers  of 
the  article  in  curing  those  fevers,  unassisted  by  any  other  medi- 
cines. This  practice  is  particularly  common  in  the  middle  and  lower 
parts  of  Jersey,  where  I have  had  opportunities  of  knowing  that  this 
plant  was  successfully  used  by  practitioners  of  medicine,  and  in  do- 
mestic practice,  in  the  treatment  of  many  of  the  different  types  of 
intermittent  fever.  Dr.  Anderson,  in  his  inaugural  thesis,  enumerates 
and  details  some  cases  of  quotidian,  tertian,  and  quartan  intermittents, 
in  which  the  bone-set  had,  under  his  own  observation,  performed 
cures.  His  favourable  accounts  are  supported  by  the  testimony  of 
Dr.  Hosack,  who  has  frequently  prescribed  the  article  in  the  treat- 
ment of  intermittents.  I am  not  able  to  offer  any  corroborative  testi- 
mony in  favour  of  this  plant  in  these  affections,  never  having  used  it 
in  them.  Dr.  Barton  says,  that  in  decoction  it  has  been  efficaciously 
administered  in  the  hot  stage  of  simple  intermittents.  The  copious 
perspiration  produced  when  thus  given  warm,  is  highly  beneficial, 
and  it  is  this  effect  which  has  given  the  plant  the  appellation  of 
“ vegetable  antimony.”  The  Doctor,  however,  seemed  to  think,  that 
to  the  heat  of  the  water  when  employed  in  this  manner,  was  greatly 
owing  the  diaphoretic  effect;  and,  unaided  by  this  adventitious  circum- 
stance, he  doubts  whether  the  determination  to  the  skin  can  equal 
that  of  Polygala  seneka.  In  cold  infusion  I have  not  been  able  to 
see  any  very  decided  or  remarkable  diaphoretic  effect  from  it. 

2 


Eupatoriwn  perfoliatum.  135 

The  efficaciousness  of  hone-set  is  not  confined  to  the  simple  forms 
of  intermittent  fever.  It  has,  beyond  disputation,  been  successfully 
employed  in  remitting  bilious,  in  yellow,  and  typhus  fevers,  particu- 
larly in  the  form  of  the  latter  disease,  lately  so  rife  throughout  the 
United  States.  And  it  is  in  cases  of  this  disease  that  I have  myself 
used  it,  and  in  which  I can  offer  the  additional  experience  of  an  ex- 
cellent practitioner,  the  late  Samuel  C.  Hopkins,  M.  D.*  This  gentle- 
man resided  in  the  village  of  Woodbury,  New  Jersey,  and  enjoyed 
an  extensive  practice  in  a range  of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  of  a po- 
pulous tract  of  country,  in  which,  from  the  low  and  marshy  nature 
of  the  soil — exposure  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  holding  fisheries,  to 
the  water,  and  other  pernicious  causes — intermittent  and  typhus 
fevers  were  very  prevalent,  and  the  latter  particularly  malignant. 
The  Doctor  was  among  those  partial  to  the  sweating  plan  of 
treating  this  fever,  and  his  unusual  success  in  a multitude  of 
eases  for  five  or  six  years  in  succession,  is  strongly  in  favour  of  that 
mode  of  practice.  The  bone-set  was  the  medicine  used  in  produc- 
ing this  effect.  He  prescribed  it  freely  in  warm  and  cold  decoction, 
but  preferred  the  warm.  He  assured  me  that  in  many  instances,  his 
sole  reliance  was  on  this  plant,  which  was  occasionally  so  varied  in 
its  manner  of  exhibition,  as  to  produce  emesis;  and  frequently  was 
intentionally  pushed  to  such  extent,  as  to  excite  free  purging.  Its 

* Late  of  Philadelphia.— This  amiable  and  excellent  man  fell  a victim  to  typhus 
fever. 


136 


Enpatorium  perfoliatum. 


diaphoretic  effect,  however,  he  deemed  it  indispensable  to  ensure, 
and  therefore  preferred  in  general  giving  it  warm.  He  has  related  to 
me  many  instances  in  which  farmers  had,  without  calling  in  medical 
advice,  or  where  it  could  not  readily  be  procured,  resorted  of  their 
own  accord  to  the  free  exhibition  of  a strong  decoction  of  this  plant, 
for  several  nights  and  days  in  succession,  assisting  its  sweating  effect 
by  warm  bed-clothing;  and  uniformly  with  beneficial,  often  with  en- 
tirely successful  effect. 

Encouraged  by  these  reports,  I have  in  every  instance  which 
has  occurred  to  myself,  imitated  this  practice,  not,  however,  plac- 
ing such  entire  reliance  on  this  means  of  cure  as  did  the  Doc- 
tor, but  using  in  addition,  repeated  small  purgings.  Yet  I am  de- 
cidedly of  opinion,  from  my  experience  with  this  article,  that  it 
is,  in  all  cases  of  low  typhus,  attended  with  hot  and  dry  skin,  as 
is  commonly  the  case,  an  inestimable  medicine ; and  I have  seen 
reason,  in  my  own  trials,  to  prefer  the  warm  decoction  or  infu- 
sion, to  the  cold,  or  to  the  plant  given  in  substance.  In  every 
instance  I have  used  the  decoction  of  the  flowers  and  leaves  of  the 
dried  plant,  to  which  form  I give  preference  to  any  other.  I have 
not  found  it  so  apt  to  produce  vomiting  in  this  way,  if  judiciously  and 
cautiously  administered,  as  the  writers  in  our  dispensatories  seem  to 
fear.  From  one  to  two  table  spoonfuls  given  every  half  hour  is,  I think, 
the  best  plan  to  ensure  its  diaphoretic,  and  avoid  its  emetic  effect.  In 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


137 


this  way  it  excites  nausea,  and  keeps  up  the  moisture  of  the  skin. 
Its  mere  tonic  effect  is  most  easily  ensured  by  giving  in  substance, 
from  twenty  grains  to  a drachm  of  the  powdered  leaves  and  flowers, 
from  three  to  six  times  in  the  course  of  twenty -four  hours. 

Of  the  beneficial  administration  of  bone-set,  in  the  treatment  of 
yellow  fever,  medical  records  present  us  with  well  authenticated  ac- 
counts. It  was  extensively  used  by  some  practitioners  in  this  disease, 
at  least  as  early  as  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-eight, 
when  it  was  then  rife  in  this  city  ; and  we  have  the  authority  of 
Dr.  Barton  to  believe,  that  in  that  epidemic  and  others,  it  was  used 
with  much  advantage.  Pursh,  the  Botanist,  likewise  states,  in  a let- 
ter addressed  to  William  Royston,  Esq.  inserted  in  the  Medical  and 
Physical  Journal,  that  much  benefit  was  derived  from  its  use  by  him- 
self and  others,  during  his  stay  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lake  Ontario ; 
where  both  the  influenza  and  lake  fever,  the  latter  of  which  he  says  was 
similar  to  the  yellow-fever,  were  raging  among  the  inhabitants.  In 
those  cases  it  was  used  in  decoction,  and  spirituous  infusion. 

It  appears  by  Dr.  Anderson’s  Thesis,  that  the  bone-set  was  exten- 
sively used  in  the  New  York  Alms-house,  in  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twelve,  in  the  treatment  of  intermittents,  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  Peruvian  bark.  It  was  given  either  in  decoction,  or 
in  powder.  In  the  latter,  in  doses  from  twenty  to  thirty  grains  every 
second  hour  during  the  intermission.  This  practice  the  Doctor  states, 


138 


Eupatovium  perfoliatum. 


was  followed  with  uniform  success.  He  further  informs  us,  that  Dr. 
Hosack  and  Dr.  Bard,  in  the  treatment  of  yellow-fever,  placed  al- 
most exclusive  dependence,  after  proper  evacuations,  on  sudorifics  ; 
and  among  this  class  of  medicines  used  the  bone-set,  and  estimated  it 
highly.  More  evidence  in  favour  of  this  article  in  febrile  affections 
might  be  adduced  ; but  1 presume  enough  already  has  been  stated 
to  show  its  undisputed  claim  to  be  ranked  as  a valuable  article 
of  the  Materia  Medica.  Yet,  though  I have  much  reliance  on  the 
powers  of  this  plant,  I cannot  advocate  or  recommend  the  prac- 
tice of  depending  exclusively  on  its  effects,  in  the  treatment  of 
fever  or  catarrhs,  of  whatever  kind.  That  it  would  be  safer  to  use  it 
as  an  auxiliary,  than  to  rely  wholly  on  its  powers,  in  any  but  slight 
cases,  does  not,  I think,  admit  of  a doubt, 

I must  here  mention,  that  the  bone-set  has  likewise  been  said  to 
cure  acute  rheumatism  ; and  that  it  has  been  used  in  those  cases,  my 
own  enquiries  and  observations  assure  me.  Though  I do  not  know  any 
well-attested  facts  of  its  efficacy  here,  or  of  any  cures  that  it  has  per- 
formed of  this  disease,  I yet  think  it  more  than  probable,  its  sweating 
powers  might  be  advantageously  enlisted,  in  conjunction  with  blood- 
letting, to  cure  acute  rheumatism,  after  the  highly  inflammatory  ac- 
tion has  been  nearly  or  wholly  subdued.  But,  perhaps,  in  the  chronic 
state  of  this  disease  it  would  be  more  safely  administered,  and  not 
unlikely,  more  usefully. 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 


139 


Dr.  Barton  speaks  of  its  alledged  beneficial  effect  in  a cutaneous 
affection  of  a very  peculiar  character,  which  appeared  some  years 
ago  in  Virginia,  and  was  called,  from  the  part  of  the  country  in 
which  it  raged,  the  James’s  river  ring-worm.  This  solitary  fact  is 
all  that  can  be  adduced  in  favour  of  its  efficacy  in  cutaneous  diseases, 
and  it  does  really  not  appear  to  me  to  be  sufficiently  supported  by 
corroborative  testimony,  or  the  experience  of  others. 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that,  on  this  point,  powers  have  been  as- 
cribed to  the  plant  which  it  does  not  possess.  This  much  a regard 
for  truth,  obliges  me  to  declare,  that  in  three  or  four  cases  of  ob- 
stinate cutaneous  eruptions,  in  which  I have  given  the  bone-set  every 
fair  trial,  it  proved  utterly  worthless. 

I can  readily  believe,  it  has  done  good  in  diseases  of  general  debi- 
lity, which  occurred  in  the  New  York  Alms-house,  as  mentioned  in 
the  thesis  already  referred  to.  But  that  it  is  competent  to  the 
cure  of  dropsies,  I much  doubt.  Indeed  my  enquiries  and  observa- 
tions in  different  states,  do  not  corroborate  the  assertion  of  Dr. 
Chapman,*  that  “ the  physicians  of  this  and  the  neighbouring  states, 
are  much  in  the  habit  of  prescribing  it,  in  dropsical  effusions.”  I have 
no  where  been  able  to  learn,  that,  either  by  physicians  or  in  domes- 
tic employment  of  the  plant,  such  a practice  has  been  resorted  to. 


* Elements  Mat.  Med.  vol.  i.  p.  34 5. 


140 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum . 


Neither  does  it  seem  probable  to  me,  that  the  sensible  or  other 
known  properties  of  bone-set,  justify  the  notion,  that  in  such  cases  it 
would  be  efficacious.  From  its  tonic  effect,  indeed,  it  may  not  be 
injurious,  but  perhaps  this  is  the  utmost  that  can  be  said  on  this 
point.  Certainly  the  inconsiderable  diuretic  consequences  of  the  use 
of  the  herb,  promise  nothing  beneficial  in  dropsies.  For  any  effect 
it  may  occasionally  have  on  the  kidnies,  it  shares  with  many  other 
diaphoretic  remedies,  which,  particularly  if  given  in  warm  decoc- 
tion, are  well  known  occasionally  to  increase  the  urinary  discharge.* 
Schoepf  speaks  of  its  use  in  gout,  and  recommends  its  external 
application  for  the  relief  of  pains. 

After  the  preceding  observations,  I am  fully  justified  in  recom- 
mending the  bone-set  as  a valuable  tonic  bitter,  at  least  equal  to  the 
chamomile;  and  as  a medicine  truly  valuable  for  its  diaphoretic 
effects.  And  though  its  other  occasional  qualities  are  not,  in  them- 
selves, sufficient  to  recommend  the  plant  to  the  notice  of  physicians, 
yet  they  certainly  enhance  the  value  of  the  article.  The  plant  is 
so  abundant  throughout  the  country,  that  it  is  within  the  reach  of 
every  country  physician,  and  those  residing  in  cities  or  towns  can 
also  readily  procure  it;  a circumstance  which  adds  much  to  the 
satisfaction  I feel  in  recommending  it. 

* It  is  not  improbable  that  the  Professor,  who  disclaims  all  knowledge  of  botany,  and 
whose  work  indeed,  on  the  Materia  Medica,  teems  with  botanical  errors,  may  have 
mistaken  the  plant  used  in  dropsies,  or  been  misinformed. 


lEIMTOOT  Hi  FEF-tF^ILTLf-rinT/lI 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum . 


141 


TABLE  XXXVII. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  a flowering  specimen  of  Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 
I have  often  seen  the  flowers  reddish-purple. 

2.  A flower  separated,  and  greatly  magnified. 

3.  A floret  separated  from  the  flower,  still  more  magnified. 

4.  Anthers  embraced  by  the  tube — somewhat  enlarged 

5.  A seed,  magnified. 


VOL.  II. 


49 


MEDEOLA  VIRGINICA. 


INDIAN  CUCUMBER.  CUCUMBER-ROOT. 

Germ.  Virg'inische  Medeola.  ( [Willd .) 

Medeoxa  Yirginica.  L.  Sp.  PI.  483.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  3.  Gron.  Virg.  39.  Pluk.  Aim.  401. 
t.  3£8.  f.  4.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  vi.  p.  389.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  ii.  par.  1. 
p.  270.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  vol.  i.  p.  244.  Bot.  Mag.  1316.  Mich.  FI.  Am. 
Boreal,  i.  p.  214.  Mulil.  Cat.  Am.  Sep.  2d.  ed.  p.  37.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  44. 
Comp.  FI.  Pli.  vol.  i.  p.  175.  Big.  Flor.  Bost.  p.  85.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  i. 
p.  238.  W'alt.  FI.  Car.  p.  126.  Elliot.  FI.  Georg.,  &c.  vol.  i.  p.  426.  Schoepf, 
Mat.  Med.  Am.  p.  53.  Bart.  Collect.  3d.  ed.  par.  i.  p.  38.  Hort.  Kew.  vol.  i. 
p.  489.  Cutler,  437.  Stokes,  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  vol.  ii.  p.  326.  Coxe’s  Disp.  ed. 
3d.  p.  410.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  p.  417. 

MEDEOLA. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Jlsparagi. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Sarmentaceae. 

Artif.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Hexandria.  Ordo  Trigijnia. 

Corolla  6-parted,  revolute.  Calix  none.  Filaments  and  anthers  distinct.  Styles  none. 


144 


Medeola  Virginica. 


Stigmas  three,  filiform  ami  divaricate,  united  at  the  base.  Berry  3-celIed;  cells 
5 or  6-seeded.  Seeds  compressed,  3 -sided. 

Nutt.  sub.  Gyromia,  Gen.  Am.  PI. 

Medeola  Virginica;  caule  lanugine  decidua  vestito;  foliis  in  medio  caule  6-8  verti- 
cillatis,  in  summitate  ternis ; ovali-Ianceolatis ; pedicellis  aggregatis,  termina- 
libus.  Mich. 

Stem  simple,  erect ; leaves  verticillated ; flowers  terminal,  aggregate.  B. 


SYNONYM  A. 


Medeola  foliis  stellatis  lanceolatis  fructu  baccato.  Gron. 
Lilium  s.  Martagon  pusillum,  &c.  Pluk. 

Medeola  verticillifolia.  Stokes. 

Gyromia  Virginica.  Nutt,  and  Bart,  in  Comp.  FI.  Ph. 


PHARM. 

MEDEOLiE  Virginicte  Radix. 

The  Medeola  Virginica  is  remarkable  for  the  extreme  regularity 
and  simplicity  of  its  structure,  and  may  certainly  be  considered 
as  a handsome  plant.  I have  always  endeavoured  to  give  in 
this  work,  the  derivation  of  the  generic  name,  wherever  it  was 
known ; but  in  the  present  instance  it  is  not  easy  to  determine  whence 
the  name  Medeola  originated.  Professor  Martin  supposes  that  it  is 


Medeola  Virginica. 


145 


the  diminutive  of  Medea,  the  renowned  sorceress  of  ancient  Mytho- 
logy ; and  this  appears  to  be  the  only  suggestion  on  the  subject,  en- 
titled to  consideration. 

The  genus  Medeola  comprises  three  species,  one  or  two  of  which 
Michaux,  Gawler,  and  some  other  botanists  have  proposed  to  ex- 
punge. Jussieu  intimates  that  it  should  be  referred  to  Trillium  or 
Paris,  from  its  analogy  to  those  genera,  having  verticillated  leaves 
and  the  habit  of  Trillium;  and  Mr.  Nuttall  has  recently  severed  the 
species  now  under  notice,  from  Medeola,  and  constituted  it  a new 
genus,  to  which  he  has  given  the  name  of  Gyromia,  from  a 
circle,  in  reference  to  its  verticillated  leaves.  He  does  indeed 
appear  to  have  good  reason  for  this  separation ; the  present  plant, 
having  a three-celled  berry,  each  cell  containing  from  five  to  six 
seeds ; while  the  other  two,  which  are  African  species,  have  berries 
containing  three  cordate  seeds.  Therefore  it  was,  that  in  my  Com- 
pendium Florae  Philadelphicse,  I rather  hastily  adopted  the  new 
name.  As,  however,  some  inconvenience  arises  in  a medical  work 
like  this,  from  the  change  of  long-received  names,  I have,  for  the 
present,  preferred  the  old  one  of  Medeola. 

The  root  is  horizontal,  from  one  to  two  inches  long,  about  half  an 
inch  thick,  oblong,  fleshy,  pure  white,  and  covered  with  a few  fibrous 
radicles.  The  stem  is  from  one  to  two  feet  high,  herbaceous,  very 
erect,  terete,  shining,  of  a yellowish  colour,  and  covered  for  a few 


146 


Medeola  Virginica. 

inches  above  and  below  the  lowest  whorl  of  leaves,  with  a deciduous, 
white,  flocculent  coat,  which  can  easily  be  removed  by  drawing  the 
stems  between  the  fingers.  The  leaves  are  in  two  distinct,  remote 
whorls.  Those  forming  the  lowest  whorl,  which  is  about  midway  of 
the  height  of  the  stem,  are  about  six  or  eight  in  number,  broad,  lan- 
ceolate, acuminate,  attenuate  at  the  base,  entire,  three-nerved,  of  a 
very  yellow  green  above,  and  glaucous  or  nearly  so  on  the  under- 
side. The  upper  whorl  is  at  the  top  of  the  stem;  and  generally  con- 
sists of  three,  but  sometimes  of  four  or  five  leaves,  which  are  ovate, 
acuminate,  attenuate  at  the  base,  and,  like  those  of  the  lower  whorl, 
entire,  three-nerved,  yellowish  green  above  and  nearly  glaucous 
beneath.  Mr.  Elliot  describes  the  leaves  as  membranous,  which  in 
the  living  state  of  the  plant,  I think  they  can  scarcely  be  considered ; 
though  they  do  indeed  dry  with  that  appearance.  The  flowers  are 
situated  on  the  top  of  the  stem;  are  aggregate,  about  three  or  six  in 
number,  two  being  mostly  opened  at  a time,  pedunculated,  generally 
drooping  and  concealed  under  the  upper  whorl  of  leaves.  They  are 
supported  by  peduncles  about  three  quarters  of  an  inch  or  an  inch  long, 
first  green,  afterwards  becoming  red.  The  corolla  consists  of  three 
straw-yellow  petals,  which  are  revolute,  lanceolate,  or  lanceolate-oval, 
obtuse,  appearing  narrower  on  the  flower  than  when  separated  and 
spread  out  as  in  Fig.  4,  owing  to  the  margin  being  somewhat  re- 
pand;  Linnseus  says  the  specimen  he  received  from  Gronovius 
had  four  petals.  Stigmas  three,  long,  irregularly  twisted,  and  divari- 
cating horizontally,  grooved  above,  and  of  a fine  chesnut  or  madder 


Medeola  Virginica. 


147 


brown  colour.  Stamens  six,  of  the  same  colour.  The  berry  is  about 
the  size  of  a common  pea,  of  a blue  colour,  inclining  to  purple,  and 
containing  three  cells,  each  having  from  five  to  six  compressed 
three-sided  seeds. 

This  plant  has  a wide  range  in  our  states,  being  every  where  found 
in  moist  rich  woods,  according  to  Michaux,  Pursh,  $jc.  from  Canada 
to  Florida.  Its  favourite  situations  are  low  thickets,  bordering  on 
rivulets ; and  in  such  places  it  will  be  found  abundantly  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  this  city,  flowering  in  the  months  of  May  and  June. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  claims  of  cucumber  root,  to  be  ranked  as  an  article  of  the 
Materia  Medica,  are  rather  humble.  It  must  be  acknowledged 
that  the  sensible  properties  of  the  plant  do  not  augur  very  favoura- 
bly of  its  activity  or  usefulness,  and  it  is  even  said  the  Indians  eat  the 
root  as  we  do  the  cucumber.  Yet  it  has  been  deemed  proper  to 
figure  and  describe  it  in  this  work,  in  consideration  of  some  little 
repute  it  has  enjoyed,  as  a diuretic,  and  its  alleged  benefit  as  a 
hydrogogue.  Little  seems  to  have  been  known  of  its  real  virtues, 
by  those  who  have  noticed  it  as  a medicine.  Schoepf,  it  is  true,  has 
enumerated  it  among  the  articles  of  the  vegetable  Materia  Medica 


148 


Medeola  Virginica. 


of  this  country:  but  he  only  asks  the  question  whether  it  is  allied  to 
Ipecacuanha  in  its  powers,  referring  to  Linnaeus’s  Flora  Lapponica, 
and  to  Gronovius.  Undoubtedly  it  is  not  entitled  to  any  regard  as 
an  emetic;  and  it  seems  probable  that  its  hydrogogue  powers  alone 
are  worthy  of  any  consideration.  The  late  Professor  Barton  speaks 
dubiously  in  his  publication  on  this  subject,  of  its  use  in  dropsies, 
which  he  mentions  it  has  had  the  credit  of  curing.  But  I learned  from 
him  a year  before  his  death,  that  some  trials  made  by  himself,  in 
consequence  of  various  information  received  from  respectable 
sources  of  its  virtues  as  a diuretic,  resulted  in  the  confirmation  of 
the  good  accounts  of  the  plant.  They  induced  him  to  think  more 
favourably  of  its  powers.  Though  I have  had  no  experience  with  it, 
as  a medicine,  I beg  leave  to  recommend  it  for  further  experiment. 
Of  the  manner  and  dose  in  which  it  has  been  used,  I know  nothing. 


Fio.  ? 


!>vW ll.r.JU„r<m . 


MS';.'  Ikv'MLil 

f hutir.iia  'CtiM-vimher.) 


Fisy.3. 


Medeola  Virginica. 


149 


TABLE  XXXVIH, 

Represents  the  entire  plant. 

Fig.  1.  The  upper  portion  with  the  terminating  whorl  of  leaves, 
flowers,  and  incipient  fruit. 

2_  The  lower  portion  (separated  from  Fig.  1,  at  the  mark  +) 
with  the  inferior  whorl  of  leaves.  The  shaggy  marks  of 
the  graver  along  this  portion  of  the  stem,  intended  to  re- 
present the  flocculent  investment,  which  in  the  plant 
itself  covers  just  thus  much  of  the  stalk. 

3.  The  root  and  lower  portion  of  the  stem,  severed  from  the 

upper  (Fig.  2.)  at  the  mark  o. 

4.  Peduncle  supporting  the  germ,  and  three  stigmas. 

5.  A stamen. 

6.  A petal. 

7.  The  ripe  berry. 


VOL.  II. 


20 


RUBUS  VILLOSUS. 


COMMON  BLACKBERRY-BUSH. 

High  or  Standing  Blackberry.  Hairy  American  Bramble,  Ait. 

Germ.  Haarige  Himbeere. — ( TVilld .) 

Rdbus  Yillosus.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  2.  p.  1085.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  1.  p.  346.  Hort.  Kew. 
ii.  p.  210.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  i.  308.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  56.  Comp. 
FI.  Ph.  it  p.  232.  Muhl.  Cat.  2d.  ed.  p.  52.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  366.  Tkach.  Disp. 
3d.  ed.  340.  Big.  Florula  Bost.  122.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal,  Am.  i.  297". 


RUBUS. 

Gen.  PI.  864. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Rosaceae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Lenticosae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Icosandria.  Ordo  Polygynia. 

Rubus,  T.  L.  * Ronce,  Framboisier.  Calix  patens  5-fidus.  Petala  5.  Stamina  liume- 
rosa  farevia.  Semina  numerosa  baccata,  supra  receptaculum  commune  dense 
collecta  in  baccam  compositam.  Frutices  aculeati  vel  quandoque  inermes, 


i52 


Rubus  villosus. 


rarius  herbse  semper  inermes;  folia  simplicia  ant  ternata  aut  digitata,  aut  pin- 
nata  in  Rubis  quibusdam  Commersonianis  habitu  similibus  Rosae;  flores  ter- 
minales  aut  et  rarius  axillares,  racemoso-paniculati  aut  rarius  solitarii,  in  R. 
odorato  corymbosi  et  abortu  dioici.  R.  Chamaemorus  sub  terra  monoi'ca  et  ex- 
tus  dioica,  radicibus  maris  et  fseminse  junctis,  caulibus  distinctis,  observante 
post  Solandrum  Linnseo.  Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  338. 

Cal.  Patens,  5-fidus.  Pet.  5.  Bacca  composita,  acinis  monospermis. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  inferior,  of  one  leaf,  fiattish,  in  five  oblong,  spreading,  sim- 
ple, permanent  segments.  Cor.  Petals  five,  roundish  or  oblong,  somewhat 
spreading,  inserted  into  the  calix,  and  usually  about  the  length  of  its  segments. 
Stam.  Filaments  numerous,  shorter  than  the  corolla,  inserted  into  the  ca- 
lix ; anthers  roundish,  compressed.  Fist.  Germens  numerous,  altogether  su- 
perior; styles  small,  capillary,  one  springing  from  the  side  of  each  germen; 
stigmas  simple,  permanent.  Peric.  Berry  compound,  consisting  of  several 
roundish  pulpy  grains,  each  of  one  cell,  collected  into  a convex  head,  hollow 
underneath,  inserted  upon  a conical  spongy  permanent  receptacle,  and  at  length 
deciduous.  Seeds  solitary,  oblong,  compressed. 

Ons.  The  separate  juicy  grains,  which  compose  the  general  berry,  are  usually 
so  attached  to  each  other,  that  they  cannot  be  disunited  without  lacerating.  In 
R.  saxatilis  they  are  distinct.  R.  Chamaemorus  is  not,  as  Linnaeus  first  thought, 
dioecious,  but  monoecious  ; Dr.  Solander  having  observed  that  the  male  and 
female  flowers  grow  from  one  root,  though  on  separate  stems.  Each  flower 
of  this  species  has  indeed  both  stamens  and  pistils,  though,  in  one  or  other 
flower,  one  part  is  imperfect. 

Ess.  Ch.  Calix  in  five  simple  segments.  Petals  five.  Berry  superior,  composed  of 
single-seeded  grains,  deciduous.  Receptacle  permanent.  Ency. 

Ribus  villosus;  pubescens,  hispidus,.aculeatusque;  foliis  3-5-digitatis,  foliolis  ovato- 
oblongis,  acuminatis,  serratis,  utrinque  pubescentibus,  caulibus  petiolisque  acu- 
leatis,  calice  brevi  acuminato,  racemo  laxo,  pedicellis  solitariis. 

Willd.  and  Pursh. 


Rubus  villosus. 


153 


Pubescent,  hispid  and  prickly;  leaves  3-5-digitate,  folioles  ovate-oblong,  acumi- 
nate, serrate,  every  where  pubescent;  stems  and  petioles  prickly,  calix  short, 
acuminate,  raceme  loose,  pedicels  solitary.  B. 

PHARM. 

Rubi  villosi.  Radix,  herba  et  fructus. 

The  term  Rubus  is  an  ancient  Latin  word,  said  to  be  of  the  same 
origin  as  ruber , which  is  supposed  to  be  the  Celtic  rub,  red;  the 
prevalent  colour  of  the  fruit  of  many  different  species  of  rubus  being 
red.  The  genus  comprises  a great  number  of  plants,  valuable  for 
the  grateful  esculent  quality  of  their  fruits ; and  contains  also  about 
fifteen  species,*  which  may  be  considered  as  medicinal.  The  whole 
number  enumerated  by  Willdenow  is  thirty-one;  but  it  is  now 
known  to  be  much  greater,  at  least  fifty  species  being  ascertain- 
ed as  existing  in  Europe,  the  West  Indies,  Peru,  Chili,  Japan,  China, 
in  the  islands  of  the  Pacific,  and  on  the  continent  of  India.  Those 
indigenous  to  this  country  are  about  nineteen  or  twenty,  of  which 
by  far  the  most  frequent,  is  the  common  blackberry,  now  to  be 
particularly  mentioned.  It  is  however  so  universally  and  so  well  known, 
that  it  does  not  require  a minute  description.  The  root  is  creep- 

* 1.  Rubus  chamsemorus.  2.  R.  trifidus.  3.  R.  arcticus.  4.  R.  saxatilis.  5.  R.  mo- 
iuccanus.  6.  R.  quinquelobus.  7.  R.  occidentalis.  8.  R.  parviflorus.  9.  R.  csesius. 
10.  R.  corylifolius.  11.  R.  fruticosus.  12.  R.  idseus.  13.  R.  rosifolius.  14.  Rubus  pro- 
cumbens.  15.  R.  villosus. 


154 


Rubus  villosus. 


ing,  irregularly  gibbous,  perennial,  woody,  and  of  a reddish-brown 
colour,  imparting  a madder-brown  or  claret  colour  to  water  boiled 
on  it.  The  stems  are  biennial,  from  three  to  seven  feet  high,  weak, 
somewhat  shrubby,  of  a reddish-brown  colour,  armed  with  large 
prickles.  The  smaller  branches  and  new  shoots  are  more  slender, 
herbaceous,  greenish,  with  here  and  there  a tinge  of  brown  or  red, 
and  also  covered  with  prickles  and  fine  hair.  The  leaves  are  in  five’s 
and  three’s,  oval,  acuminate,  finely  and  sharply  serrate,  villous  on 
both  sides,  and  soft  to  the  fingers,  strongly  veined  and  varying  in 
size.  The  petioles  are  prickly,  and  also  covered  with  hair.  The 
flowers  are  large,  white,  borne  in  terminal  panicles  or  racemes,  con- 
sisting of  a five-petalled  corolla  and  numerous  stamens.  The  fila- 
ments are  very  slender,  and  the  anthers  small.  The  fruit  is  first 
green,  then  red,  and,  when  full  ripe,  of  a deep  shining  crow-black, 
and  deliciously  flavoured  when  suffered  to  ripen  on  the  bushes. 

The  blackberry  is  every  where  found  in  our  states,  by  way  sides, 
in  old  fields,  along  the  margins  of  stone  quarries,  3jc.  delighting  in 
dry  arid  soils.  It  flowers  from  May  to*  July,  and  ripens  its  fruit  in 
August. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

Popular  confidence  in  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the  blackberry, 
has  induced  me  to  introduce  it  in  this  work ; and  popular  partiality 


Rubus  vittosus. 


155 


may  account  for  the  numerous  tales  of  its  wonderful  powers.  Due 
abatement  on  this  account  must  therefore  be  made,  from  the  re- 
port of  its  efficacy  as  an  antilithic,  a vulnerary,  a febrifuge,  a re- 
frigerant, £jc. 

Few  native  articles  possess  a greater  share  of  the  favouritism  of 
domestic  practitioners ; and  in  many  sections  of  our  country,  black- 
berry tea  is  resorted  to  as  a general  corrective  of  all  vitiated  humours, 
a strengthener  of  the  stomach  and  bowels,  in  short,  as  a perfect 
panacea.  Like  most  other  favourite  articles  in  family  use,  its  vir- 
tues have  been  overrated ; but  I am  persuaded  that  there  re- 
mains a sufficiency  of  creditable  testimony  in  its  favour,  proving  that 
its  real  medicinal  virtues  are  valuable,  and  eminently  serviceable  in 
such  disorders  as  require  the  exhibition  of  articles  of  an  astringent  na- 
ture ; for  this  plant,  in  every  part,  is  decidedly  astringent,  but  the  root 
especially  partakes  of  this  property.  It  is  the  root  which  is  generally 
used,  made  into  a tea;  and  the  fruit  in  juice  or  syrup.  The  root  is  brought 
to  our  markets  in  the  spring  and  fall  of  the  year,  and  sold  for  medi- 
cinal purposes.  A decoction  made  by  boiling  a handful  of  the  cut  or 
bruised  portions,  in  a pint  and  a half  of  water,  down  to  a pint,  is  the 
usual  form  of  using  it.  Thus  prepared,  it  is  given  in  diarrhoeas  and 
dysenteries  by  the  peasantry  ; and,  as  I have  been  uniformly  inform- 
ed by  intelligent  persons,  with  great  success.  The  decoction  is 
somewhat  bitter,  but  not  disagreeable,  and  is  marked  by  a slight 
but  grateful  aroma.  Its  tonic  effect,  of  which  I have  heard  some 


156 


Rubus  villosus. 


praise,  is  certainly  very  inconsiderable,  or  at  least  evanescent ; and 
in  cases  of  mere  debility,  unless  proceeding  from  a general  laxity 
of  the  system,  accompanied  with  slight  disorders  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  it  cannot  be  resorted  to  with  any  reasonable  prospect  of  suc- 
cess. As  to  its  reputed  powers  as  an  antititbic,  I really  do  not 
tbink  them  worth  consideration. 

I have  had  some  little  experience  with  this  article,  and  about 
a year  since  prescribed  it  in  two  cases  of  colera  infantum  with 
success.  It  was  during  my  attendance  in  the  Philadelphia  Dis- 
pensary ; and  patients  of  the  class  which  resort  thither,  are 
prone  to  follow  the  prescriptions  of  their  physicians,  when  they 
order  herb  teas,  so  that  I had  a fair  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
power  of  this  article.  The  fruit  which  is  gratefully  acidulous, 
is  kind  and  healing  to  the  disordered  stomach  and  bowels  of  per- 
sons labouring  under  dysentery,  recent  or  protracted.  It  may  be 
eaten  by  such  persons,  in  its  full  ripe  state,  when  not  too  long  gather- 
ed, not  only  with  impunity,  but  evident  advantage ; being  found  to 
promote  the  natural  and  healthy  secretions  of  the  body.  To  chil- 
dren labouring  under  the  bowel  complaint,  during  dentition  or  at 
other  times,  it  is  particularly  grateful  and  beneficial.  It  is  a more 
common  practice,  however,  to  give  in  such  cases,  and  in  the  dysen- 
teries of  adults,  a preparation  known  in  families  by  the  name  of 
blackberry  jam,  or  often  a syrup,  recent  or  preserved,  made  from 
the  full  ripe  fruit.  Of  the  efficacy  of  the  former  I have  seen  many 


Rubus  villosus. 


157 


instances,  among  which  is  my  brother,  who,  while  labouring  under 
a severe  attack  of  dysentery,  experienced  the  most  sudden  and  salu- 
tary change  in  his  disorder,  on  my  giving  him  the  jam  plentifully. 
As  nothing  can  be  more  grateful  to  the  stomach  of  persons,  adults 
or  infants,  affected  with  this  disease,  it  should  always  be  resorted  to 
when  procurable,  and  given  almost  ad  libitum.  The  fine  aroma  of 
the  fruit  is  preserved  both  in  the  syrup  and  the  jam,  and  a few 
spoonfuls  of  it  will  be  found  to  relieve  the  painful  tenesmus. 

A jelly  made  of  the  fruit  when  on  the  turn  from  red  to  black,  has 
been  said  to  be  useful  in  gravelly  complaints ; but  this,  I think,  is  not 
entitled  to  any  credit. 

The  dose  of  the  decoction,  is  a teacup  full  for  an  adult,  and 
two  or  three  tea-spoonfuls  for  a child,  three  or  four  times  a day. 

Schoepf  describes,  in  a medicinal  point  of  view,  the  Rubus  frutico- 
sus,  (certainly  the  present  plant)  and  the  Rubus  occidentalis  or  wild 
raspberry,  together.  They  are  undoubtedly  closely  allied  in  their  me- 
dicinal virtues,  as  they  are  in  their  botanical  structure  and  habit.  I have 
seen  raspberry  jam  (prepared  from  the  Rubus  idseus  or  garden  rasp- 
berry) used  in  the  manner  mentioned  above,  for  the  blackberry : 
but  it  proved  much  inferior ; whether  the  jam  and  syrup  prepared 
from  the  wild  American  raspberry,  be  more  closely  allied  in  its  vir- 
tues to  those  made  of  the  blackberry,  I know  not,  but  it  is  worth  an 
experiment.  A syrup  prepared  from  the  juice  of  the  garden  rasp- 


VOL.  II. 


21 


158 


liubus  villosus. 


berry,  is  ordered  by  the  London  Pharmacopoeia,  for  officinal  use.  And 
I think  the  blackberry  of  our  own  country,  is  deserving  of  the  same 
attention.  1 had  designed  to  give  in  this  number  a figure  of  the  Ru- 
bus  procumbens,  or  dewberry,  which  is  closely  allied  to  the  plant 
now  under  consideration,  in  a medicinal  point  of  view.  I unfortu- 
nately, however,  let  the  period  of  its  florescence  pass  by,  and  it  will 
consequently  be  excluded  from  these  two  volumes,  though  I shall  not 
omit  to  figure  it,  should  the  work  be  continued.  What  has  been 
said  of  the  root,  and  of  the  fruit  of  the  blackberry,  however,  may  very 
justly  be  considered  as  applicable  to  the  root  and  fruit  of  the  dewber- 
ry. Indeed,  the  two  plants  are  not  unfrequently  used  indiscriminately. 

TABLE  XXXIX. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  a flowering  branch  of  the  Rubus  villosus,  a spe- 
cimen having  been  selected,  containing  a few  flowers. 
They  are  often  very  numerous  and  form  a kind  of  pa- 
nicle. 

2.  Represents  the  fruit,  which  is  a compound  berry,  with  the 
acini  frequently  projecting  irregularly  beyond  the  line  of 
the  circumference.  It  must  here  be  remarked,  that  black- 
berries are  often  found,  particularly  late  in  the  season, 
smaller,  and  less  oblong,  or  more  globular  than  this — - 
which,  however,  is  the  genuine  form  of  the  fruit. 


> :L--  >25  V 1_1lj  li_j  U ^3  6 j 


j J3J  ;i  i'ivlj  r ) )'T,  ’) 


■'  ’ 


Fnj.l. 


HEUCHERA  AMERICANA. 


ALUM  ROOT.  AMERICAN  SANICLE. 


Heuchera.  Americana.  L.  Sp.  PI.  238.  Hort.  Cliff.  82.  Gron.  Virg.  29.  Roy.  Lugdb. 
437.  Mill.  Diet.  Knip.  Cent.  5.  n.  42.  Murray,  Nov.  Com.  Gott.  vol.  iii.  p. 
66.  Herm.  Parad.  131.  t.  131.  Pluk.  Aim.  332.  t.  58.  f.  3.  Houttuyn.  Pfl. 
Syst.  Lin.  v.  p.  840.  AVilld.  Sp.  PI.  i.  p.  1328.  Muhl.  Cat.  2d.  ed.  p.  29.  Hort. 
Kew.  i.  p.  320.  Royen.  437.  Boerh.  i.  p.  208.  Bart.  Col.  ed.  3d.  par.  i.  p. 
9.  par.  2.  p.  2.  Coxe?s  Disp.  3d.  ed.  350.  Dyck.  Ed.  Disp.  416.  Pursli,  FI. 
Am.  Sep.  i.  p.  187.  Mich.  FI.  Am.  Boreali.  i.  p.  171.  Elliot.  Sketch,  i.  p.  337. 
Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  i.  p.  174.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  36.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i.  p. 
133.  Stoke’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  ii.  41. 


HEUCHERA. 
Gen.  PI.  447. 


Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Saxifragae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Succulentae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Pentcindria.  Ordo  Digynia. 


460 


Heuchera  Americana. 


Heuchera,  L.*  Calix  5-fid«s.  Petala  5-parva.  Staminas.  Capsula  2-locularis.  Folia 
H.  Jlmericanae  radicalia  et  flores  in  scapo  paniculati  terminates.  H.  Dichoto- 
mae  caulis  dichotomus  et  pedunculi  2-flori  foliis  oppositis  axillares. 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  308. 

Caps.  2-locularis,  2-rostris.  Pet.  five,  calici  inserta. 

Gen.  Cli.  Cal.  Perianth  of  one  leaf,  with  five  roundish,  narrow,  obtuse  segments.  Cor. 
Petals  five,  lanceolate,  inserted  into  the  margin  of  the  calix,  and  of  the  same 
length  with  it.  Stain.  Filaments  five,  awl-shaped,  erect ; anthers  roundish. 
Pist.  Germen  roundish,  cloven  half  way  down,  ending  in  two  straight  styles, 
the  length  of  the  stamens;  stigmas  obtuse.  Peric.  Capsule  ovate,  acuminated, 
half  cloven,  of  two  cells,  with  two  beaks  which  are  reflexed.  Seeds  numerous, 
small. 

Ess.  Ch.  Petals  five.  Capsule  with  two  beaks  and  two  cells; 

Heuchera  Americana ; viscido-pubescens ; scapo  foliisque  aperiusculis,  foliis  mo- 
dice  rotundato-lobatis  dentatis  ; dentibus  dilatatis  obtusis  mucronatis,  pedun- 
culis  panicul*  tres  dichotomis  divaricatis,  calicibus  brevibus  obtusis,  pctalis 
lanceolatis  longitudine  calicis,  staminibus  longe  exsertis.  Pursh. 

Viscid  and  pubescent ; scapes  naked,  thyrsus  elongated;  radicle  leaves  on  long 
petioles,  with  rounded  lobes.  Pers. 

SYNONYMA. 

Heuchera  cortusa.  Mich. 

Heuchera  viscida.  Pursh. 

Cortusa  Americana.  Herm. 

Mitella  Americana,  flore  squallidae  purpureo,  villoso.  Boerh. 

PHARM. 


Heuchers  American*,  Radix. 


Heuchera  Americana. 


161 


The  genus  Heuchera  was  named  in  honour  of  John  Henry 
Heucher,  professor  of  medicine  in  the  University  of  Wittemberg, 
who  was  the  author  of  a botanical  and  some  medical  publications.* 

According  to  Pursh  there  are  five  species  natives  of  North  Ame- 
rica; though  Dr.  Muhlenburg  and  Mr.  Nuttall  only  enumerate  three. 
H.  Americana  is  the  only  species  with  which  I am  acquainted.  It  is 
indeed  the  only  one  growing  in  Pennsylvania  and  Jersey;  and  it  is 
in  this  neighbourhood  quite  common. 

The  root  is  horizontal,  irregular,  knotty,  slightly  compressed,  of  a 
yellowish  colour,  and  an  intensely  astringent  taste.  There  are  no 
stems.  The  scapes  are  numerous  from  a single  root,  naked,  terete, 
smooth  under  the  ground,  and  just  where  they  emerge  from  it,  of 
a bright  carmine  colour.  Higher  up  they  become  very  hairy,  and  of 
a green  colour,  frequently  attaining  a height  of  two  or  three  feet. 
The  common  height  is  about  fourteen  inches.  The  leaves  are  all 
radical,  cordate,  five  to  seven  lobed,  having  the  lobes  rounded  and 
toothed,  and  the  teeth  garnished  with  a small  point.  The  flowers 
are  small,  borne  on  a long,  loose,  terminal  and  pyramidal  panicle  or 
thyrsus.  Calix  five-parted.  Petals  minute,  rose-coloured,  inserted 

* He  published  in  1711,  “ Index  Plantarum  Horti  Medici  Academise  Wittemberg- 
ensis,”  arranged  according  to  the  system  of  Rivinius.  And  in  1712,  he  published  a 
treatise  entitled,  “ De  igne  per  ignem  extinguendo,  sive  de  prsestantissimo  Cam- 
phor* usu  in  febribus  acutis.” 


162 


Heuchera  Americana. 


into  the  tube  of  the  calix.  Filaments  more  than  twice  the  length  of 
the  calix,  delicate,  yellow,  and  inserted  into  the  calix.  Anthers  small, 
red,  globose,  two-celled.  Germ  bifurcated  at  the  summit,  and  end- 
ing in  two  diverging  slender  styles.  Capsule  consists  of  two  long 
beaks,  containing  a great  number  of  very  small  blackish  or  deep 
brown  seeds. 

The  whole  plant  is  every  where  covered  with  a soft  pubescence, 
which  on  the  branches  of  the  panicles  and  upper  parts  of  the  scapes, 
is  viscid  or  clammy;  and  the  margins  of  the  leaves  are  finely 
fringed.  The  viscid  pubescence  caused  Pursh  to  alter  the  specific 
name  here  used,  to  that  of  viscida.  The  plant  inhabits  shady  woods, 
thickets,  among  rocks,  and  stony  places  in  fields,  near  water,  seem- 
ing always  to  prefer  a moist  soil,  and  one  tolerably  rich.  It  is  in  full 
flower  in  May,  June,  and  at  this  season  may  be  found  in  every  state 
of  the  union.  Pursh  says,  it  varies  with  nearly  smooth  leaves. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  Alum-root,  as  its  name  implies,  is  an  astringent ; and  for  this 
property,  which  it  possesses  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  plant  is  here 
figured  and  described.  Little  seems  to  be  known,  as  yet,  of  its  pro- 
perties, further  than  this.  And  it  is  not  used,  so  far  as  I know,  in 
Pennsylvania,  Jersey  or  Maryland,  as  a medicine.  It  is  said  by  Pro- 
fessor Barton,  to  be  one  of  the  articles  of  the  Materia  Medica  of  the 


Heuchera  Americana. 


163 


Indians,  who  use  it  as  a styptic,  and  in  the  treatment  of  obstinate  slug- 
gish ulcers. 

Dr.  Barton  further  says,  “ it  is  the  basis  of  a powder,  which  has 
lately  acquired  some  reputation  in  the  cure  of  cancers.’’*  In  such 
cases  he  supposed  its  efficacy  was  owing  to  its  astringency. 

Of  the  medicinal  virtues  of  the  plant  in  question,  my  own  personal 
experience  does  not  entitle  me  to  speak,  not  having  ever  employed 
it  in  any  way.  To  those  who  feel  inclined  to  make  experiment 
with  native  articles  of  the  class  of  astringents,  it  may  be  confidently 
recommended  as  worthy  of  notice. 


* Collections. 


164 


Heuchera  Americana. 


TABLE  XL. 

Fig.  l.  Represents  the  root,  leaves  and  lower  portions  of  the  scapes. 

The  petioles  are  generally  of  unequal  lengths,  and  often 
much  longer  than  here  represented. 

2.  The  upper  portion  of  a flowering  panicle. 

3.  A flower  separated,  of  its  natural  size. 

4.  The  germ  and  styles. 

5.  The  flowers  opened,  shewing  the  stamens  and  petals  inserted 

into  the  calix. 


6.  The  same,  greatly  magnified. 


A ’txcunr  by  ll ' B C Bar  con, 


■ IEUBHJ  C IELIE  TBJL  AM  IS  5UTC  <, 

I Aliun-xT  nr. 


Fio.l 


Fut.  5. 

\ .iijhl  ■ 


Fi;i.  1. 


Fi,h  3. 


HEDEOMA  PULEGIOIDES. 


PENNYROYAL. 

Germ.  Poleyblattrige  Cunile.  ( Willd .) 

Hedeoma  Pulegioides.  Sp.  PI.  i.  p.  593.  Sub.  Melissa  Pulegioides.  Sp.  PI.  ii.  p.  SO. 
Gron.  Yirg.  167.  Kalin,  it.  ii.  p.  314.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  v.  p.  136. 
Willd.  Sp.  PI.  i.  p.  123.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  ii.  p.  414.  Micb.  FI.  Am.  Boreal, 
i.  p.  13.  Mubl.  Cat.  PI.  Am.  Sep.  2d.  ed.  p.  3.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  15  and  63. 
Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i.  p.  13.  Big.  Floru.  Bost.  7.  Elliot,  Sketch,  i.  p.  27.  Nutt. 
Gen.  Am.  PI.  i.  p.  16. 

HEDEOMA. 

Persoon  Synopsis,  ii.  p.  131. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Labiatae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Labiatae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Diandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Cal.  basi  gibbus.  Cor.  ringens.  Stam.  2-sterilia. 

Hedeoma  pulegioides ; pubescens,  foliis  oblongis  serratis,  pedunculis  axillaribus  ver- 
ticillatis,  calicis  labio  inferiore  bisetso  setis  ciliatis.  Pers.  and  Pursh. 
Pubescent ; leaves  oblong,  serrate;  pedunclesaxillary  and  verticillate;  .the 
lower  lip  of  the  calix  biseted ; the  bristles  ciliated.  B. 


VOL.  II. 


22 


166 


Hedeoma  pulegioides. 


SYNONYM  A. 

Cunila  pulegioides.  Willd.  Sp.  PI. 

Melissa  pulegioides.  Sp.  PI.  i.  p.  593. 

Melissa  floribus  verticillatis,  glomeratis,  secundum  longitudinem  caulis,  foliis  tomen- 
tosis.  Gron. 

PHARM. 

Hedeoma  pulegioidis,  Herba. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Planta  spithamea,  brachiata.  Folia  lanceolato-ovata,  scabriuscula,  uno  alterove  dente 
notata : superiora  angustiora.  Verticilli  secundum  totam  longitudinem  plant*. 
Bradeae  utrinque  bin*  floribus  majores,  pr*ter  alias  minutas.  (Mant.)  Calix 
decemstriatus,  scaber : L.  superiore  trifido  acuminato,  inferiore  setaceo.  Co- 
rolla alba,  fauce  violacea : Lab.  superiore  vix  emarginato.  Stamina  duo,  co- 
rolla breviora,  fertilia,  et  filamenta  alia  duo  minora  castrata.  (Willd.} 

Pennyroyal  needs  but  little  description,  being  so  universally 
known.  The  root  is  annual,  small,  branched,  fibrous  and  of  a yel- 
low colour.  The  stem  is  from  nine  to  fifteen  inches  high,  obscurely 
angular, but  often  quite  terete, pubescent,  and  very  much  branched; 
branches  erect.  Leaves  small,  opposite,  lanceolate,  or  ovate,  atten- 


2 


Hedeoma  pidegioides. 


167 


uated  at  the  base,  into  slender  petioles,  sparsely  dentated,  promi- 
nently veined,  particularly  beneath,  and  pubescent.  Flowers  very 
small,  pale-blue,  verticillate  on  short  peduncles.  Calix  striated  and 
pubescent,  having  the  upper  lip  divided  into  two  setous,  ciliated  seg- 
ments ; the  lower  lip  into  three  larger,  and  destitute  of  ciliation. 

The  flowers  appear  in  July,  and  the  plant  continues  to  bloom  till 
the  last  of  autumn.  It  is  distributed  extensively  over  every  part  of 
the  United  States,  growing  always  on  dry,  and  seems  to  prefer  arid 
and  calcareous  soils.  It  is  very  abundant  by  road  sides,  and  is  fre- 
quently seen  growing  in  the  crevices  and  ruts  of  turnpikes. 

The  whole  plant  gives  out  when  pressed  between  the  fingers  or 
agitated,  a strong,  pungent  and  grateful  scent,  which  is  extremely 
reviving  and  pleasant.  Great  quantities  of  the  herb  are  brought  to 
the  Philadelphia  Market,  and  vended  at  a trifling  price,  for  medical 
purposes  ; and  the  ready  sale  it  meets  with,  proves  how  extensively 
it  is  used  in  domestic  practice. 

MEDICINAL,  PROPERTIES. 

Pennyroyal  is  introduced  into  this  work,  an  account  of  the  high 
degree  of  popular  confidence  it  enjoys,  as  an  emenagogue.  Whether 
the  herb  is  entitled  to  all  the  reputation  it  possesses,  in  pro- 
ducing a return  of  the  suppressed  catamenia,  I cannot  undertake  to 


1(58 


Hedeoma  pulegioides. 


say : but  certainly  there  are  few  persons  who  have  used  it,  that  do 
not  hear  testimony  of  the  efficacy  of  Pennyroyal  tea,  as  the  decoc- 
tion is  usually  called,  at  least  in  common  or  slight  cases  of  obstruc- 
tion, or  interruption  of  the  menses.  Hot  water  readily  extracts 
the  peculiar  warm,  pungent  and  aromatic  property  of  the  plant ; and 
sweetened  with  honey,  molasses,  or  sugar,  it  is  a grateful  beverage. 
It  is  generally  administered  simultaneously  with  the  pediluvium ; and, 

I have  always  heard,  and  from  many  highly  creditable  sources,  with 
complete  success.  From  what  I can  learn  on  the  subject,  little  de- 
pendence should  be  placed  on  this  practice,  except  in  recent  cases  of 
suppression.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Mentha  Pulegium,  that  is,  Pen- 
nyroyal or  Pennyroyal-mint  of  Europe,  has  no  inconsiderable  repu- 
tation in  similar  cases.  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  the  American 
plant  known  by  the  name  of  Pennyroyal,  or  wild  Pennyroyal,  is  entirely 
distinct  from  the  Pennyroyal  of  Britain,  and  belongs  indeed  to  a very 
distinct  genus.  I have  mentioned  this  fact  here,  because  it  appears 
that  some  of  the  writers  in  the  American  Dispensatories,  seem  to 
speak  of  them  as  identical.  The  same  observation  applies  to  a late 
work  on  the  Materia  Medica.* 

An  infusion  of  Pennyroyal  is  said  by  Kalm,  in  his  travels  through 
this  country,  to  be  used  by  persons  who  have  taken  cold,  and  have 
pains  in  the  limbs. 

I have  heard  that  the  Hedeoma  pulegioides  is  sometimes  given  in 
spirituous  tinctures,  but  I know  of  no  instance  in  which  it  has  been 
used.  The  plant  yields  an  essential  oil,  for  which  see  Appendix. 

* By  Dr.  Chapman. 


■ 


T. 


Fist.  3.  Fist.  3. 

^ 


.XO- Jflarnts 7a  Scufy?* 


Fist.  4-. 


Au  WPJ  JJurt.  n 


-v.---.4rAv  PTHLIJCTOIBES. 

( rcT'  rryr  oy  al  > 


Hedeoma  pulegioides. 


169 


TABLE  XLI. 

1.  Represents  an  entire  plant  of  a very  common  size,  of  the  He- 

deoma pulegioides. 

2.  The  calix,  separated. 

3.  A front  view  of  a separated  flower,  the  size  of  nature. 

4.  The  same,  greatly  magnified. 

5.  A side  view  of  the  separated  flower. 


6.  The  same,  greatly  magnified. 


CUNILA  MARIANA. 


DITTANY. 

Mountain  Dittany.  Wild  Basil.  Mint-leaved  Cunila.  Maryland  Cunila. 

Cunila  Mariana.  Lin.  Sp.  PI.  30.  Also,  Sp.  PI.  i.  568.  Gron.  Virg.  64.  Ed.  n.  88. 
Schoepf,  Mat.  Med.  Am.  5.  Hort.  Kew.  i.  31.  Mich.  FI.  Boreali-Am.  i.  13. 
Vahl.  enum.  i.  213.  Pluk.  Mant.  34.  t.  344.  fol.  35.  pi.  1.  Hist.  ox.  iii.  413. 
s.  11.  t.  19.  f.  7.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  1.  43.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep*  ii.  406. 
Muhl.  Cat.  PI.  Am.  Sep.  ed.  2d.  p.  3.  Elliot’s  Sketch,  i.  p.  27.  Bart.  Prod. 
FI.  Ph.  15.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i.  p.  13.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  i.  15. 

% ' 

CUNILA. 

Gen.  PI.  35.  Schreb.  46. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Ldbiatae. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Verticillatae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Diandria.  Ordo  Monogynia. 

Cunila,  L.  * Coniele.  Ca/ixcilindricus  10-striatus  5-dentatus.  Corolla  bilabiata,  supe- 


172 


Cunila  Mariana. 


rius  ereeta  plana  emarginata,  inferius  3-loba.  Semina  intra  calicera  villis  clau- 
sum. Flores  corymbosi  aut  verticillati,  axillares  and  terminates. 

Juss.  Gen.  Plant,  ed.  1789.  p.  111. 

Cal.  cylindricus,  5-dentatus,  fauce  villosus.  Cor.  ringens:  labio  superiore  erecto,  piano, 
emarginato.  Stain.  2-sterilia. 

Calix  cylindrical,  10-striate,  5-toothed.  Corolla  ringent,  with  the  upper  lip  erect,  flat, 
and  emarginate.  Stamens  2-sterile.  The  two  fertile  stamens  with  the  style 
exserted,  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  corolla.  Stigma  unequally  bifid.  Seeds 
four.  Nutt. 

Gen.  Ch.  Cal.  Perianth  one-leafed,  cylindrical,  striated,  with  five  somewhat  unequal 
teeth,  permanent.  Cor.  one-petalled,  ringent;  upper  lip  erect,  flat,  emarginate; 
lower  lip  three-parted ; segments  rounded,  middle  one  emarginate.  Stam. 
Filaments  two,  fertile,  two  without  anthers;  anthers  roundish,  dldymous.  Fist. 
Germ  superior,  four-parted ; style  filiform  ; stigma  bifid,  acute.  Peric.  The 
calix  closed  at  the  throat  with  shaggy  hairs.  Seeds  four,  egg-shaped,  minute. 

Ess.  Cb.  Calix  five-toothed,  corolla  ringent;  upper  lip  erect,  flat.  Two  of  the  fila- 
ments barren.  Seeds  four. 

Ccnixa  Mariana ; foliis  ovatis  serratis  sessilibus,  corymbis  terminalibus  dichotomis. 

Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Leaves  ovate,  serrate,  sessile ; corymbs  terminal,  dichotomous. 


SYNONYMA. 

Satfreja  origanoides.  Sp.  PI.  1.  568.  Gron.  88.  ed.  2d. 
Thvmus,  kc.  Gron.  64.  ed.  1. 

Calamintha  mariana  mucronatis  rigidioribus,  kc.  Pluk.  Mant. 
Caxamiktha  ereeta  Yirginiana,  &c.  Hist.  ox. 


Cwiila  Mariana. 


173 


PHARM. 

Cuntue  Marian*.  Herba. 

Quit.  Fragrans,  spirans,  odore  ocyrnum  referens. 

Vis.  excitans,  nervina. 

Usus.  febres  intermittentes ; cephalalgia ; snccus  expressus  cum  lacte  ad  morsnra  ser- 
pentum.  Schoepf. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Radix  fibrosa  perennis.  Caulis  acute  quadrangulatus,  ramosus,  fulvus.  Folia  sub- 
sessilia,  ovata,  acuta,  serrata  basi  sub-cordata  subtus  pallida.  Corymbi  termi- 
nales  et  axillares  dichotomis,  pedicellis  capillaribus,  bracteolis  linearibus. 
Cal.  cylindric,  five-fidus,  laciniis  brevibus  sequalibus  acutis ; 10-striatus,  pilis 
nitentibus.  Os  calicis  villosum  : semina  quatuor.  Habitat  in  montosis  siccis, 
et  sylvis  aridis  umbrosis,  florens  Julio. 

The  genus*  to  which  this  handsome  little  plant  belongs,  is  peculiar 
to  America;  and  it  contains  properly,  now  that  Hedeoma  is  separated 
from  it,  only  the  single  species  here  figured — the  second  species,  C. 
capitata  of  Vahl,  being  more  nearly  allied,  it  is  said,  to  Ziziphora. 

The  root  of  dittany  is  small,  fibrous  and  yellowish,  resembling  that 
of  the  common  pennyroyal.  The  stem  is  delicate  and  slender,  four- 

* Cunila  is  the  k«»/a- j,  of  Plin.  Nicand. 

VOL.  ii.  23 


174 


Cunila  Markina. 


sided,  very  smooth,  much  branched,  and  of  a reddish-yellow,  rarely 
purplish  colour.  The  branches  are  given  off  opposite,  or  nearly  so,  to 
each  other.  The  leaves  are  small,  punctated,  sub-sessile,  opposite, 
ovate,  acute,  round-cordate  at  base,  sharply  serrated,  of  a dry  texture, 
and  waved  on  the  margin  and  disk.  They  are  very  glabrous  above, 
and  of  a fine  green  colour,  and  bluish-green,  on  their  under  surface. 
Flowers  numerous,  in  terminal  and  sometimes  axillary  dichotomous 
corymbs,  situated  on  short,  filiform,  yellow  or  reddish  peduncles. 
Calix  striated.  Corolla  bluish-purple.  Mr.  Elliot  describes  it  as  white 
in  the  mountains  of  Carolina.  Stamens  and  style  exserted,  twice  the 
length  of  the  corolla.  Stigma  bi-cleft,  and  didymous.  The  time  of 
flowering  is  from  July  to  the  last  of  September. 

The  dittany  is  always  found  on  dry  soils,  in  shady  and  hilly 
woods,  and,  in  the  southern  states  chiefly  inhabits  mountainous 
tracts  of  land. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  earliest  notice  of  the  medicinal  virtues  of  dittany,  is  in  the 
work  of  Schoepf,  who  describes  it  as  a stimulant  and  nervine,  and 
as  useful  in  intermittent  fevers ; in  head-ache  ; and  the  expressed 
juice  with  milk  as  an  application  to  the  bites  of  serpents.  At  the 
time  that  Schoepf  wrote,  this  country  was  more  uncultivated  than 


Canila  Mariana. 


1 75 


now,  and  the  bites  of  venomous  serpents  more  frequent.  Hence  the 
country  people  resorted  to  a variety  of  plants  for  the  purpose  of 
healing  those  bites,  and  preventing  their  injurious  effects  on  the  sys- 
tem. It  appears,  that  among  other  supposed  specifics,  the  dittany 
was  considered  as  useful.  As,  however,  the  properties  of  the  plant 
are  not  sufficiently  active  to  promise  any  good  in  such  cases,  this 
part  of  his  account  may  be  passed  over.  Of  its  use  in  intermittents, 
I know  nothing ; but  in  slight  fevers  and  colds,  the  dittany  tea  is 
much  used,  as  I know  from  observation  and  enquiry,  with  a view  to 
excite  perspiration.  It  still  retains  a considerable  share  of  popular 
confidence  as  a nervine,  being  frequently  resorted  to,  to  relieve  ner- 
vous head-achs,  and  various  hysterical  affections.  I have  never  used, 
nor  prescribed  dittany  tea ; but  as  a warm,  grateful,  refreshing,  and 
slightly  stimulating  tisan,  it  may  be  safely  recommended.  Mr.  Elliot 
says,  an  infusion  of  the  leaves  of  this  plant  is  often  given  in  the 
southern  states,  in  fevers,  with  a view  to  excite  perspiration.  The 
dittany  belongs  to  the  class  of  stimulating,  warm,  and  grateful  aro- 
matics, which  comprises  the  mints,  the  monardas,  and  pennyroyal j 
and  does  not,  probably,  differ  essentially  in  medicinal  virtues,  from 
any  of  these. 


176 


Cunila  Mariana. 


TABLE  XLII. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  a flowering  specimen,  broken  off  a few  inches 
above  the  root,  of  Cunila  Mariana. 

S.  A flower,  separated. 

3.  The  corolla,  opened. 


(All  the  size  of  nature.) 


C TTTMTnr,  ^ MAMMA . 

I Dittaim') 


LOBELIA  CARDIN ALIS. 


CARDINAL  PLANT.  CARDINAL  FLOWER, 

Germ.  Die  rothe  Kardinals  blume. 

Butch.  Kardinaals  bloem. 

Engl.  The  Scarlet  Lobelia,  or  Cardinals’  Flower. 

French.  Lobelie  Cardinale ; La  Cardinale. 

Ital.  Fior  Cardinale : Cardinalizia. 

Span.  Escurripa. 

Port.  Cardealina. 

Lobelia  cardinalis.  L.  Hort.  Cliff.  426.  Hort.  Ups.  276.  Roy.  Lugdb.  421.  Gron. 
Virg.  134.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  1.  sub.  Rapuntio.  Kniph.  Cent.  4.  n.  42.  Knorr, 
delic.  ii.  t.  L.  2.  Moris.  Hist.  ii.  p.  466.  s.  5.  t.  5.  f.  54.  Hern.  Mex.  879.  t. 
880.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  x.  p.  65.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  tom.  1.  par.  11.  p.944. 
Mich.  FI.  Boreali-Am.  vol.  ii.  p.  151.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  vol.  ii.  p.  448.  Bot. 
Mag.  320.  Rob.  ic.  137.  Knorr,  delic.  ii.  t.  L.  2.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  vol. 
ii.  p.  62.  Muhl.  Cat.  2d  ed.  p.  22.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  ii.  p.  77.  Drake, 
Piet.  Cin.  p.  87.  Schoep.  Mat.  Med.  Am.  p.  128.  Bart.  Collections,  ed.  3d 
par.  1.  p.  40.  Hort.  Kew.  iii.  p.  284.  Cutler,  in  Am.  Acad.  i.  p.  484.  Rupp, 
al.  Hall.  p.  248.  Park.  Parad.  t.  355.  f.  6.  Stokes,  Bot.  Med.  vol.  i.  p.  344. 

34 


VOL.  II. 


178 


Lobelia  cardinalis. 


LOBELIA. 

Gen.  PI.  1363. 

Cal.  5-fidus.  Cor.  1-petala,  irregularis,  ssepius  fissa.  Caps,  infera,  2-3-locuIaris. 

Cali. v 5-cleft.  Corolla  monopetalous,  irregular,  on  tlie  upper  side  cleft  nearly  to  its 
base.  Stamina  united  into  a tube.  Stigma  2-lobed ; involucrate ; involucrum 
(or  indusium)  bearded.  Capsule  inferior  or  semisuperior,  2 or  3-celled,  open- 
ing at  the  summit.  Seeds  minute,  scabrous. 

Obs.  Suffruticose,  shrubby,  rarely  arborescent,  most  commonly  herbaceous ; 
leaves  alternate ; flowers  minutely  bi-bracteolate,  solitary  and  axillary,  or  ter- 
minal and  racemose;  raceme  bracteate;  flowers  bilabiate,  5-cleft,  upper  lip 
cloven,  segments  linear,  lower  trifid,  lacinise  ovate  or  obovate,  palate  chan- 
nelled or  bidentate,  often  bimaculate.  Tube  of  the  anthers  curved  at  the  sum- 
mit, bearded  and  perforated,  at  length  admitting  the  egress  of  the  stigma. 
Colour  of  the  flowers  scarlet,  fulvous,  or  more  commonly  blue.  Nutt. 

Nat.  Syst.  Jussieu.  Lobcliacese.  (Ann.  du  mus.) 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Campanacese. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Monadelphia.  Ordo  Fentandria. 

Lobelia  cardinalis;  erecta,  simplex,  pubescens;  foliis  ovato-lanceolatis,  acuminatis, 
eroso-denticulatis,  racemo  subsecundo  multifloro,  gcnitalibus  corolla  longio- 
ribus.  Wilhl.  and  Pursh. 

SYNONYMA. 

ltapuntium  galeafum  Virginianum  coccineo  flore  majore.  Moris. 

Rapuntium  maximum  coccineo  spicato  flore.  Htrm.  Max. 

Flos  cardinalis  Barberini.  Cal.  ap.  Hern. 

Trachelium  Americanum.  Park.  Parud. 

Lobelia  coccinea.  Stokes. 

2 


'£ 


Lobelia  cardinalis.  179 

PHARM. 

Lobelia  cardinalis,  Radix. 

Few  native  plants  equal  in  beauty  this  gaudy  flower.  Indeed,  it 
is  far  more  showy  and  elegant  than  a multitude  of  exotics  so  indus- 
triously cultivated.  Wherever  seen,  it  is  greatly  admired,  and  per- 
haps it  only  requires  to  be  generally  known,  in  order  to  obtain  a 
high  station  in  the  catalogue  of  favourite  plants. 

It  is  a native  of  all  our  marshes  and  meadows,  from  one  end  of 
the  union  to  the  other;  and  in  the  autumn,  the  season  of  its  flower- 
ing, it  decorates  them  with  its  beautiful,  long-blooming  carmine 
flowers,  forming  a gorgeous  contrast  with  the  showy  blue  flowers  of 
its  congener,  the  L.  siphilitica.  Pursh  describes  a white  variety. 

The  root  resembles  that  of  many  species  of  the  genus,  as  the  in- 
flata,  siphilitica,  Claytoniana,  §c.  It  is  perennial,  whitish-yellow, 
fibrous,  of  a nauseous  pungent  taste,  affecting  the  fauces  in  a manner 
similar  to  that  of  the  inflata,  producing  a taste  resembling  that  of 
tobacco.  The  stem  is  erect,  pubescent,  simple,  from  two  to  four  feet 
high,  terminating  in  a long  spike  of  brilliant  carmine-coloured 
flowers,  those  towards  the  top  coming  into  bloom  successively  after 
the  lower  ones  have  decayed,  so  that  the  plant  continues  a long  time 
in  flower.  The  leaves  are  broad-lanceolate,  of  a fine  shining  green, 


180 


Lobelia  cardinalis. 


and  eroselv  denticulate  on  the  margin.  The  period  of  flowering  is 
from  the  last  of  July  till  September,  during  which  time  it  may  be 
abundantly  found  in  marshes,  low  meadows,  the  borders  of  rivulets, 
springs,  and  in  watery  thickets,  in  every  state  in  the  union. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

This  acrid,  lactescent  plant,  is  introduced  in  this  work  on  account  of 
its  reputed  efficacy  as  an  anthelmintic.  Little,  however,  seems  to  be 
known  with  certainty,  of  its  powers  ; the  chief  claim  it  has  to  notice 
as  a medicine,  being  derived  from  the  circumstance  of  the  Cherokee 
Indians  using  it  successfully  to  expel  worms.  The  earliest  notice  of  it 
which  has  met  my  eye,  is  to  be  found  in  the  valuable  little  work  of 
Schoepf.  That  writer  intimates  that  it  has  been  used  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  L.  siphilitica,  in  siphilis  ; and  though  this  circumstance 
may  not  add  to  its  medical  importance,  it  evinces  an  early  im- 
pression of  the  activity  of  the  plant,  and  of  a similarity  in  its 
virtues,  to  those  of  the  better  known  species  just  alluded  to.  Dr. 
Drake  has  enumerated  the  Cardinal  Plant  among  the  anthelmintic 
vegetable  productions  of  Ohio : but  he  does  not  say  whether  he  has 
ever  used  it,  or  ever  seen  it  employed  with  a view  to  such  an  effect 
on  the  system.  Of  the  medicinal  powers  of  this  plant,  I am  not  able 
to  state  any  thing  from  my  own  experience  ; but  am  of  opinion  that 
its  sensible  properties,  its  reputed  powers,  and  the  well  known  ac- 
tivity of  the  genus  to  which  it  belongs,  fully  entitle  it  to  further 
notice. 


IL  ‘Q>B  IE  ILIA  (CAIM11MMLIIS  <> 

(Caaflniffll  IPHttl  „) 


Tanner  Valiant-/.  Kearny.  A'  Co.  Sc. 


Fiy. 


Lobelia  cardinally. 


181 


TABLE  XLIII. 


1.  ^Represents  the  upper  portion  of  a flowering  specimen  of  Lo- 

belia cardinalis,  the  size  of  nature. 

2.  An  outline  of  one  of  the  lower  leaves,  which  are  largest  to- 

wards the  root,  and  gradually  lessen  in  size  as  they  are 
situated  higher  up  on  the  stem. 

3.  A flower  separated. 

4.  The  petals  removed,  shewing  the  column  of  stamens,  and 

pistil  with  the  calix. 

a.  The  stamens  removed,  exhibiting  the  pistil.  The  filaments 
are  carmine,  and  the  anthers  lead-blue. 


CHEN OPODIUM  ANTHELMINTICUM. 


JERUSALEM  OAK. 

Worm-seed.  Worm  Goose-foot. 

Germ.  Der  wurmtreibender  Gansefuss ; wurmsamen,  wurmmelde ; wurmmelte. 
Dutch.  Wurmdryvend  ganzevoet.  Wurm-melde. 

Engl.  Shrubby  Goose-foot. 

French.  L’Anserine  vermifuge.  Anserine  anthelmintique. 

Portu.  Chenopodio  vermifugo. 

Span.  Anserina  anthelmintica.  Ceniglo  antelmentico. 

ottoJ'i  ov  e A/tti  vrayayov. 

Chenopodicm  anthelminticum.  Kahn,  Canad.  ii.  p.  283.  Mat.  Med.  p.  73.  Dill, 
elth.  77.  t.  66.  t.  76.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  5.  p.  809.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  vol.  i. 
p.  1304.  Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  vol.  i.  p.  198.  Lin.  Sp.  PI.  320.  Mat.  Med.  190. 
Amoen.  x\cadem.  iv.  p.  532.  Clayton,  Yirg.  145.  Gron.  Virg.  ed.  n.  39.  Schoepf, 
Mat.  Med.  Am.  p.  31.  Barton’s  Cullen,  vol.  ii.  p.  414.  Drake’s  Piet.  Cincin. 
p.  87.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  i.  p.  199.  Thacher’s  Disp.  3d  ed.  p.  180. 
Dyck.  Edin.  Disp.  p,  226.  Wilkins,  Med.  Mus.  vol.  v.  Coxe’s  Disp.  3d  ed. 
p.  258.  Mulil.  Cat.  ed.  2d  p.  28.  Barton’s  Collec.  ed.  3d,  par.  1.  page  39  and 
63.  Chapman’s  Therap.  and  Mat.  Med.  vol.  ii.  p.  70.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph. 
vol.  i.  p.  149.  Flore  Medicale  Francois.  Elliott,  Flor.  Can.  and  Georg,  vol. 
i.  p.  331.  Walt.  FI.  Car.  p.  111.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal.  Am.  i.  p.  173.  Hort.  Kew. 
i.  p.  313.  Berg.  p.  177.  Merry,  account  from,  in  Chir.  Rev.  xviii.  par.  ii. 
Murray,  iv.  p.  275.  Chaim,  i.  p.  71.  Stokes,  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  ii.  p.  19. 


184 


Chenopodium  anthelminticum. 


CHEN  OPODIUM. 


Gen.  PI.  435. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Atriplices. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Oleraccae. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Pentandria.  Ordo  Digynia. 

Sem.  1-lenticulare,  superum.  Cal.  5-phyllus,  5-gonus. 

Calix  5-parted,  with  5-angles.  Corolla  none.  Style  bifid  (rarely  trifid.)  Seed  1-lenti- 
cular,  horizontal,  covered  by  the  closing  calix. — Leaves  alternate,  often  angu- 
lar in  the  outline.  Flowers  glomerate,  paniculate.  Nutt. 

Chenopodium  anthelminticum ; foliis  ovato-oblongis,  dentatis,  racemis  aphyllis. 

Leaves  oblong-lanceolate,  sinuate  and  dentate,  rugose ; racemes  naked;  style 
one,  3-cleft.  Elliot. 

SYNONYMA. 

Chenopodium  lycopi  folio,  perenne.  Dill. 

Botrys  prsealta  frutescens,  &c.  Clayt.  and  Gron. 

PHARM. 

Chenopodii  anthelmintic! — Herba,  succus  spissatus,  semina,  ol.  essential. 


This  is  a very  common  looking  plant,  of  repulsive  habit,  and  ex- 
cessively disgusting  odour.  It  closely  resembles  two  or  three  species 


Chenopodium  anthelminticum. 


18  5 


of  the  same  genus,*  and  has  been  confounded,  especially  with  one, 
the  Chenopodium  ambrosioides,  from  which  it  is  difficult  for  com- 
mon observers  to  distinguish  it.  The  root  of  Jerusalem  oak  is  pe- 
rennial. The  stem  is  herbaceous,  upright,  very  much  branched, 
deeply  grooved,  and  from  two  to  four,  or  five  feet  high.  It  is  said 
by  some  to  exceed  this  stature,  though  it  has  not  happened  to  me  to 
meet  with  it  more  than  three  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  arranged 
alternately,  and  somewhat  irregularly;  are  sessile,  very  conspicuously 
veined,  of  a yellowish-green  colour;  and,  under  a lens,  covered  on 
their  under  surface,  with  terebinthinate  globular  dots.  The  flowers, 
as  in  most  of  the  species,  are  very  small  and  numerous,  being  borne 
on  long,  axillary,  dense,  leafless  spikes.  One  of  the  principal  charac- 
teristics of  this  plant  is  discoverable  in  this  leafless  structure  of  the 
spikes;  and  in  this  respect  it  differs  remarkably  from  the  C.  ambro- 
sioides, with  which  it  is  so  frequently  confounded.  The  calix  is  mo- 
nophyllous,  five-cleft,  persistent,  shewing  the  stamens  conspicuously 
beyond  the  extremities  of  the  teeth.  Filaments  white,  anthers  yel- 
lowish-white. Style  trifid.  The  flowers  of  this  plant  appear  in  the 
beginning  of  July,  and  continue  till  the  last  of  August.  1 have,  how- 
ever, sometimes  found  flowering  specimens  as  late  as  September. 

Its  favourite  haunts  are  in  loose  soils,  near  rubbish  and  fences.  It 
is,  however,  not  so  common  a plant  as  either  of  the  other  species,  in 
the  middle  and  northern  states.  To  the  south  it  appears  to  be  fre- 

* Chenopodium  is  derived  from  (^va;,)  and  5raw;,  (TaJ'a;.)  Anserine  derived  from 

anser,  a goose;  hence  the  name  goose-foot. 

VOL.  II.  S5 


186 


Chenopodium  anthelminticwn. 


quent  and  abundant,  and  to  acquire  a greater  size  than  here.  Pursh 
says  this  species  “ grows  plentifully  in  the  streets  of  Philadelphia.” — 
He  must  certainly,  in  this  instance,  have  observed  carelessly,  else  he 
would  have  ascertained  that  it  is  the  Chenopodium  ambrosioides 
which  is  so  common  in  our  streets,  by  the  gutter  ways,  and  in  the 
suburbs  on  vacant  lots  among  rubbish.  The  late  Professor  Barton 
always  considered  that  plant  the  C.  anthelminticum,  as  did  Pursh. — 
The  least  attention,  however,  to  the  characters  of  the  two  species, 
will  prove  that  they  have  both  erred  in  this  instance.  The  odour 
of  the  C.  ambrosioides,  is  different  from  that  of  the  plant  under 
notice.  It  is  much  less  subtle,  pungent  and  disagreeable,  and 
does  not  continue  so  powerful  on  the  dried  plant  as  in  the  other 
species. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  very  peculiar  odour  emanating  from  every  part  of  this  plant, 
I have  already  noticed,  with  a view  to  point  out  tiie  distinction  be- 
tween it  and  the  ambrosioides.  This  odour  is  so  disgusting,  that  it 
seems  in  some  measure  to  detract  from  the  value  of  the  article  as  a 
medicine,  because  of  the  difficulty  of  inducing  children  to  swallow 
any  preparation  from  it.  It  has  been  compared  to  the  odour  of  vale- 
rian; which,  however,  is  much  more  tolerable.  The  whole  plant  and 
the  seeds,  are  alike  imbued  with  the  peculiar  scent.  The  medicinal 


% 


Chenopodium  anthelminticum. 


18  7 


preparations  are — the  expressed  juice ; the  bruised  seeds,  in  an  elec- 
tuary; a decoction  of  the  leaves  in  milk;  and  an  essential  oil,  extract- 
ed from  the  seeds.  The  latter  is  the  most  common  form  of  admin- 
istering the  article ; and,  as  it  conveys  the  essential  properties  of  the 
plant  in  the  smallest  bulk,  seems  to  be  entitled  to  a preference  to 
the  other  methods.  In  whatever  manner  it  be  given,  the  effect  looked 
for,  is  an  expulsion  of  worms  from  the  alimentary  canal.  The  an- 
thelmintic virtues  of  this  species  of  goose-foot,  were  early  noticed  by 
Kalm,  Clayton,  Schoepf,  and  others,  and  are  now  very  generally  ac- 
knowledged, so  that  the  article  constitutes  one  of  the  legitimate 
catalogue  of  medicines.  It  is  conspicuously  noticed  in  all  our  dis- 
pensatories and  works  on  Materia  Medica ; and  is  undoubtedly  very 
estimable. 

The  essential  oil,  under  the  name  of  worm  seed  oil,  enjoys  a great 
share  of  popular  favour,  and  hence  has  unfortunately  been  an  object 
of  a very  reprehensible  cupidity  in  the  adulteration  of  it.  A spurious 
kind  of  oil  is  sold  under  the  above  name,  which  appears  to  be 
made  from  the  Chenopodium  ambrosioides,  with  the  addition  of  a 
considerable  proportion  of  turpentine  spirit.  This  preparation  is  in- 
efficacious as  an  anthelmintic,  and  is  easily  known  by  the  absence  of 
the  very  remarkable  odour  of  the  true  plant,  and  the  oil  prepared 
from  its  seeds. 


Of  the  expressed  juice  of  the  recent  leaves,  a table  spoonful  is  re- 


188 


Chenopodium  anthelminticum. 


commended  to  be  given  on  an  empty  stomach  morning  and  even- 
ing, repeating  the  dose  till  worms  be  discharged.  A wine  glass  full 
of  the  decoction  of  the  plant  in  milk,  in  the  proportion  of  a handful 
of  the  leaves  to  a quart  of  milk,  is  the  dose  for  a child ; and  when 
the  oil  is  administered,  from  five  to  eight  or  ten  drops  may  be  given 
to  a child  two  years  old  on  a lump  of  sugar,  and  this  continued  twice 
or  thrice  a day  for  three  days  ; a mercurial  purge  is  then  to  be 
given.  If  the  effect  be  not  produced,  and  worms  be  still  suspected 
to  exist,  the  same  plan  is  to  be  pursued  till  successful.  In  this 
manner  I have  used  this  article,  and  found  it  efficacious,  produc- 
ing a full  discharge  of  worms  ; but  have  not  had  it  in  my  power  to 
try  it  in  any  other  form.  M.  Biette  says,  it  is  given  in  France,  in 
marmalade  or  beer,  as  a vermifuge  ; and  Chalmers  particularly  re- 
commends an  electuary  prepared  with  the  pulverized  seeds,  mixed 
with  honey.  Of  this  a table  spoonful  morning  and  night  for  three 
successive  days,  is  the  dose  he  recommends  for  a child. 


TabU  J / 


€MInTOF  ©B'jniM  iiVMB¥iBFIMmTT3€TIPA , 
( Jeiniiisnileinni  OwlkJ 


jfy  s. 

0 


Tunnei-.  Yallance.Keumy- &0*  $c- 


Chenopodium  anthelminticum. 


489 


TABLE  XLIV. 

Fig.  1.  A flowering  specimen,  the  size  of  nature,  of  Chenopodium 
anthelminticum. 

2.  A flower,  greatly  magnified. 

s.  The  fruit  enveloped  by  the  calix,  magnified. 

4.  Three  seeds,  the  size  of  nature. 


5.  A seed,  greatly  magnified. 


PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 


GINSENG. 

Germ.  Fiinfblattrige  Kraftwurz,  KraftwurzeL 
French.  Ginseng. 

Chin.  Jin-chen 

Japan.  Nindsin ; dsindsom. 

Tartare.  Mandchon  Orkoda. 

Iroquois.  Garent-oquen, 

Banish.  Ginseng,  ginsem. 

Portu.  Ginsano. 

Spanish.  Jin-seng. 

Pan  ax  quinquefolium.  L.  Sp.  PI.  1512.  Gron.  Yirg.  147.  Mat.  Med.  222.  Kalm,  it, 
iii.  p.  334.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  1.  Blackw.  t.  513.  Regn.  Bot.  Mich.  Am.  ii.  p. 
256.  Lafit.  Ginseng.  51.  t.  1.  Catesb.  Car.  iii.  p.  16.  t.  16.  Yaill.  Sex.  43, 
Trew.  ebret.  t.  6.  f.  1.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Syst.  Pfl.  x.  p.  333.  Pursh,  FI.  Am. 
Sep.  vol.  ii.  p.  191.  Catesb.  Car.  iii.  t.  16.  Bot.  Mag.  1333.  Woodville,  Med. 
Bot.  i.  t.  58.  Breynius,  Prod.  p.  52.  Sarrasin,  Hist.  Acad.  1718.  Bourdelin, 
Hist,  de  PAcademie,  1797.  Jartoux,  in  Phil.  Trans,  xxviii.  p.  237.  Osbeck, 
China,  p.  145.  Barton's  Cullen.  Mat.  Med.  vol.  ii.  p.  115.  Heberden,  Med. 
Trans,  vol.  iii.  p.  34.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  i.  p.  176,  Muhl.  Cat.  ed.  2d  p. 
101.  Bart.  Comp.  FI,  Ph.  vol.  i.  p.  136.  Coxe’s  Disp,  ed.  3d,  p.  467,  Raii. 
Hist,  p,  1338.  Cutler,  in  Am.  Acad.  i.  492.  Fothergill,  J.  in  Gent,  Mag, 


192 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


xxiii.  p.  209.  Geoffr.  ii.  115.  Hill.  589.  Stokes’s  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  ii.  p.  157. 
Lewis,  i.  467.  Disp.  by  Duncan,  p.  269.  Monro,  iii.  119.  Rutty,  p.  219. 
Spielm.  p.  357.  Yog.  p.  219.  Dale,  p.  235.  Pearson,  R.  ii.  p.  193.  Mur.  i.  330. 

PANAX. 

Gen.  Plant,  ed.  Schreb.  n.  1604. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Aralise. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin.  Hederacese — later  botanists,  Umbellatse. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Pentandriq.  Ordo  Trigynia.  According  to  Willdc- 
now  and  others,  Polygamia  Dioecin. 

Umbella  simplex.  Bacca  cordata,  2-spcrma.  Polygama.  Pursli. 

Hermaph.  umbella.  Cal.  5-dentatus,  superus.  Cor.  5-petala.  Stain.  5-styli  2.  Bacca  dis- 
perma  infera. 

Masculi.  umbella.  Cal.  integer.  Cor.  5-petela.  Stam.  5.  Willd. 

Floxvers  polygamous  ; umbel  simple.  Calix  5-toothed.  Corolla  of  5-petals.  Berry  in- 
ferior, subcordate,  2,  sometimes  3-seeded.  Calix  in  the  male  flower  entire. 

Nutt. 

Panax  quinquefolium  ; radice  fusiformi,  foliis  terms  quinatis,  foliolis  ovalibus  acumi- 
natis,  petiolatis,  serratis. — Willd.  and  Pursli. 

Root  fusiform,  leaves  ternate  and  quinate,  leaflets  oval,  acuminate,  petiolate, 
serrate. 

SYNONYMA. 

Axrexiana  Canadensis.  Lafiteau  and  Catesby. 

Araliastrum  quinquefolii  folio,  (majus  ninsin  vocatum.)  Yaill. 

Araxiastrum  foliis  ternis  quinquepartitis.  Trew. 

Araxia  Canadensis.  Tourn. 


Panax  qitinquefolium. 


193 


PHARM. 

Pan.  quinquefol.  Radix. 

The  root  of  Panax  quinquefolium  is  about  three  or  four  inches  in 
length,  and  usually  of  the  thickness  represented  in  the  plate.  It  is 
of  a whitish-yellow  colour,  and  consists  of  one,  two,  or  three  tap- 
shaped portions.  It  is  wrinkled  transversely  by  parallel  rugae  or 
lines,  and  the  whole  surface  is  covered  with  small,  whitish  radicles. 
It  is  perennial ; and  each  year’s  stalk  leaves,  after  dying  away,  an  an- 
gular mark,  as  represented  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  root  figured, 
where  these  marks  are  numerous.  It  is  generally  deep-seated  in  the 
ground ; and  growing  most  commonly  at  the  roots  of  trees,  is  not 
very  easily  obtained.  The  stem  is  erect,  terete,  green  below,  but 
tinged  with  purplish-red  towards  the  end,  whence  the  petioles  arise. 
These  are  three  in  number,  diverging  in  a regular  manner,  having 
the  flower-stalk  situated  in  the  fork,  produced  by  the  union  at  their 
base  with  the  top  of  the  stem.  The  petioles  are  about  two  or  three 
inches  long,  round,  and  as  in  the  genus  Aralia,  swelling  into  a kind  of 
knob  at  their  base,  where  they  have  a slight  motion  with  each 
other,  and  support  three  compound  leaves.  The  leaflets  are 

mostly  five  in  number,  but  sometimes  only  three  on  one  of  the 

% 

petioles,  as  represented  m the  plate.  I have  not  seen  any  specimens 
with  seven  leaflets,  though  botanists  state  that  they  are  sometimes  met 
with.  They  are  ovate,  acuminate,  doubly  serrate,  deep  green  above, 

26 


VOL.  II. 


194 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


paler  underneath,  and  smooth  on  either  side ; they  are  supported 
by  partial  footstalks,  from  a quarter  to  half  an  inch  in  length,  flat- 
tened and  grooved,  and  tinged  with  red  at  the  point  of  union  with 
the  general  footstalk.  The  flowers  are  very  small,  and  borne  in  a 
globose  umbel  on  a peduncle,  at  first  short,  but  afterwards  becoming 
elongated  as  the  flower  advances  towards  fruit : and  when  the  fruit  is 
finally  ripe,  it  attains  the  length  represented  in  Fig.  7.  The  involu- 
crum  consists  of  numerous,  small,  yellowish,  pointed  leaves,  which  be 
come  reddish  when  the  fruit  is  mature.  The  calix  is  cut  into  five 
sharp  teeth,  and  is  persistent,  being  generally  found  on  the  apex  ot 
the  ripe  berry.  The  corolla  is  white,  consisting  of  five  oval,  fugacious 
petals.  The  stamens  in  perfect  flowers  are  five  in  number,  crowned 
with  heart-shaped  anthers ; and  the  pistils  consist  of  an  irregular, 
inferior,  oblong  or  cordate  flattened  germ,  and  two  persistent 
arcuate  styles;  though  occasionally  there  are  three  styles,  and  often 
but  one  will  be  found ; in  which  case  the  berry  will  become  single, 
and  irregularly  shaped,  as  shown  in  some  of  those  in  Fig.  7.  The 
berries  are  of  a fine  Vermillion  colour,  commonly  reniform,  with  an 
apex  or  crown,  as  exhibited  in  the  upper  berries  of  the  group  in  Fig. 
7.  and,  as  there  represented,  the  inner  flowers  are  but  just  ex- 
panded, while  the  immature  or  green  berry,  and  the  ripe  fruit  are  to 
be  found  on  the  same  stalk.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  find  abortive  or 
barren  flowers. 

Ginseng  is  not  a common  plant  in  the  northern  and  eastern  states 


2 


Pancix  qmnquefolium. 


195 


of  the  union.  It  is  much  more  frequent  in  the  western  states,  always, 
however,  being  thinly  scattered  over  a large  tract  of  country.  It  de- 
lights in  rich,  shady,  mountainous  regions,  where  it  retires  to  the 
deepest  recesses  of  shade  and  protection,  and,  as  already  mentioned, 
is  generally  found  near  the  roots  of  trees.  In  the  vicinity  of  Phila- 
delphia, it  is  certainly  a rare  plant : yet  I have  been  successful  in 
finding  it  both  on  the  high  rocky  banks  of  the  Wissahickon  creek, 
under  deep  shade,  and  in  the  unbrageous  woods  above  the  falls  of 
Schuylkill  on  the  west  side,  where  it  grows  in  company  with  other 
rare  plants,  as  Dentaria  diphylla,  D.  concatenata,  Caulophyllum  thalic- 
troides,  Triosteum  perfoliatum,  Viola  Pennsylvanica,  Orchis  specta- 
bilis,  Obolaria  Virginiana,  #jc.  The  specimens  from  which  the  figure 
was  made,  I collected,  the  flowering  one  in  July,  and  the  fruiting  one 
in  September  last,  at  which  time  I found  five  individuals  of  this 
scarce  plant  within  a quarter  of  a mile  of  each  other. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  the  celebrated  Ginseng  of  the  Chinese, 
which  has,  till  within  a few  years  past,  constituted  an  article  of  ex- 
tensive and  profitable  commerce  to  the  inhabitants  of  North  America. 
It  is  not,  however,  now  exported  to  China,  owing  either  to  the  quan- 
tities obtained  in  that  country,  or  to  some  fancied  deterioration  in 
the  article  ; and  I have  been  informed  by  a supercargo,  that  a quan- 
tity carried  out  to  Canton  a year  or  two  since  in  a vessel  in  which  he 
sailed,  was  thrown  overboard  on  their  arrival  there,  to  avoid  pay- 


196  Panax  quinquefolium. 

ment  of  duties,  which  exceeded  the  price  the  article  could  com- 
mand. 

Ginseng  was  formerly  considered  as  the  peculiar  production  of 
Chinese  Tartary,  and  was  not,  until  the  enquiries  and  investigations 
of  M.  Sarrasin,* * * §  Lafiteau,t  Bartram,J  and  Kalm,$  discovered  to  exist 
in  North  America.  The  high  value  of  this  article  in  China,  and 
- the  virtues  it  was  reputed  to  possess,  rendered  it  a subject  worthy 
of  enquiry,  whether  the  plant  found  in  this  country  was  iden- 
tical with  the  Tartarian  species.  Accurate  examinations  of  the  two 
plants,  in  comparison  with  each  other,  soon  satisfied  botanists  of  their 
identity ; and  the  Chinese  have  long  accredited  the  roots  of  our 
Panax  quinquefolium,  sent  to  them  for  consumption,  as  the  veritable 
Ginseng  of  Tartarv.  Accordingly  they  eagerly  purchased  it  from  us, 
and  hence  it  became  an  article  of  extensive  traffic  with  them.  Those 
roots  were  found  to  meet  with  the  readiest  sale,  which  were  clarified 
after  the  manner  used  in  China,  to  purify  or  render  it  transparent. 

The  most  authentic  account  we  have  of  the  Eastern  plant 
which  produces  the  esteemed  Ginseng  of  the  Chinese,  is  by  Father 

* See  Memoirs  of  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences,  1718,  where  this  writer  has 
given  a copious  account  of  American  Ginseng. 

f A Jesuit  and  missionary  among  the  Iroquois  of  this  country. 

4:  John  Bartram. 

§ Travels. 


Paiiax  qidnqiiefolium. 


197 


Jartoux,  a missionary  at  Pekin,  who  was  licensed  to  make  a 
journey  through  the  mountains  of  Chinese  Tartary,  with  a view 
to  acquaint  himself  with  the  plant,  and  the  manner  of  collecting 
and  preparing  it.  According  to  this  writer,  it  is  found  in  greatest 
abundance  between  the  39th  and  47th  degree  of  north  latitude, 
inhabiting  the  sides  of  deeply  shaded  mountains,  and  the  banks  of 
streams  of  water,  and  near  the  roots  of  trees.  In  all  the  situa- 
tions where  he  met  with  it,  it  seemed  to  court  the  deepest  shade. 
The  Emperor  of  China  monopolises  the  privilege  of  collecting  all 
the  Ginseng  in  his  dominions,  and  with  a view  to  preserve  his 
right  unmolested,  he  encloses  and  guards  with  great  vigilance, 
whole  provinces.  Notwithstanding  the  rigorous  punishments  in- 
flicted on  those  who  venture  to  infringe  his  right  of  collecting  this 
precious  herb,  the  inhabitants  frequently  enter  the  interdicted  tract 
of  country  in  vast  numbers,  and  load  themselves  with  the  roots  of 
Panax,  carrying  with  them  for  subsistence,  during  a long  time, 
nothing  but  parched  millet,  and  sleeping  on  the  bare  ground.  From 
those  employed  by  the  Emperor  himself  to  collect  the  roots,  he  ex- 
pects a gratuitous  portion,  of  two  ounces  of  the  best  procured,  from 
each  individual ; and  pays  for  all  above  this  quantity  its  weight  in 
silver.  This  plan  insures  him  an  annual  receipt  of  20,000  Chinese 
pounds  at  about  one-fourth  of  its  real  value  in  the  market.  The  col- 
lectors steep  the  roots  in  a decoction  of  rice  or  millet,  scour  them 
with  a brush,  and  then  expose  them  to  the  fumes  of  the  boiling  li- 
quor by  placing  them  on  sticks  above  it,  till  they  become  dry  with  a 


198 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


semi-transparency,  or  resembling  horn.  The  yellow  colour  so  much 
valued  by  the  Chinese  in  this  root,  is  acquired  during  this  process. 
When  dried  by  fire  or  the  sun’s  rays,  the  roots  are  equally  good, 
but  destitute  of  the  yellow  colour. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

As  it  is  from  the  Chinese  we  first  learned  the  medicinal  vir- 
tues of  Ginseng,  it  may  be  proper  to  specify  the  effects  they  attribute 
to  it,  previously  to  giving  an  opinion  as  to  its  real  powers.  It  is  al- 
most impossible  to  conceive  of  a substance  capable  of  producing  a 
series  of  more  beneficial  effects,  on  the  human  system,  than  those 
which  the  fashion,  prejudice,  or  caprice  of  the  Mandarins  ascribed  to 
the  Ginseng.  The  Chinese  physicians  have,  it  is  said  by  Jartoux, 
written  volumes  on  the  root,  in  praise  of  its  various  extraordinary 
powers,  and  it  forms  the  base  or  chief  ingredient  in  all  their  prescrip- 
tions for  the  highest  classes  of  the  population,  and  is  never  or  rare- 
ly administered  to  the  poor,  because  of  its  high  price*  as  has  al- 
ready been  stated.  They  consider  it  as  a sovereign  remedy  in  all  the 
diseases  incidental  to  their  climate  and  country;  and  yield  no  confi- 
dence to  any  medicine  which  is  not  combined  with  it.  They  say  it 
gives  instantaneous  relief  in  cases  of  excessive  mental  or  corporeal 

* The  price  at  Pekin,  is  said  to  have  been  eight  or  nine  times  its  weight  in  pure  silver, 
and  sometimes  more;  according  to  K.alm,  the  price  at  Quebec,  in  1748,  was  five  to  six 
livres  a pound.  The  profit  in  China,  must  therefore  have  been  immense. 


Panax  qainqiiefolium. 


109 


fatigue,  attenuates  and  dissolves  humours,  facilitates  difficult  res- 
piration, imigorates  the  stomach  and  digestive  organs,  sharpens 
the  appetite,  allays  vomiting,  cures  hypocondriacal,  nervous,  and 
hysterical  affections,  confirms  the  tone  of  the  healthy  system,  and  re- 
novates the  wasting  and  faded  powers  of  senility, — in  fact,  that  it  is 
a perfect  panacea.  Hence,  the  name  of  Panax,  given  to  it  by  Lin- 
nseus,  a term  intended  to  express  this  catenation  of  important  vir- 
tues.* The  Chinese,  besides  chewing  it,  use  it  in  decoction, 
in  the  proportion  of  a drachm  of  the  root  boiled  a long  time  in  a 
covered  vessel,  containing  a sufficiency  of  water  for  a dose.  They 
again  add  water,  and  boil  it  a second  time  to  extract  all  the  virtues 
of  the  precious  drug. 

It  appears  from  Father  Jartoux’s  account,!  that  he  himself 

* Among  other  visionary  effects  ascribed  to  it,  it  is  not  surprising  that  they  should 
believe  it  to  be  an  aphrodisiac.  Writers  on  the  Materia  Medica,  among  whom,  Cullen 
is  conspicuous,  deny  that  the  root  has  any  such  effect  on  the  system  : and  this 
author,  in  expressing  his  discredit  of  their  accounts  on  the  subject,  says,  he  knew 
a gentleman  advanced  in  years,  who  chewed  a quantity  of  the  root  every  day,  for 
several  years,  but  could  perceive  no  aphrodisiac  effect.  Cullen,  Mat.  Med. 

f « No  body  can  imagine  that  the  Chinese  and  Tartars  would  set  so  high  a value 
upon  this  root,  if  it  did  not  constantly  produce  a good  effect.” — “ I observed  the  state 
of  my  pulse,  and  then  took  half  of  a root  raw;  in  an  hour  after,  I found  my  pulse  much 
fuller  and  quicker;  I had  an  appetite,  and  found  myself  much  more  vigorous,  and 
could  bear  labour  much  better  and  easier  than  before.  But  I did  not  rely  on  this  trial 
alone,  imagining  that  this  alteration  might  proceed  from  the  rest  we  had  that  day ; 
but  four  days  after,  finding  myself  so  fatigued  and  weary,  that  I could  scarce  sit  on 


500 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


could  not  withhold  his  credence  from  their  extravagant  tales ; but 
the  experience  of  other  Europeans,  does  not  by  any  means  coincide 
with  his  statement.  They,  on  the  contrary,  believe  it  possesses  little 
medicinal  worth ; and  refer  the  numerous  beneficial  effects  ascribed  to 
it  by  the  Chinese,  to  the  imagination  of  a people  remarkable  for  their 
prejudices,  civil,  moral  and  religious.  As  a proof  of  this  it  may  be 
mentioned,  that  they  set  a higher  value  upon  those  roots  which  have 
a fancied  resemblance  to  the  human  form,  (as  in  the  root  figured  in 
our  plate)  and  ascribe  greater  powers  to  them  than  to  those  of  dif- 
ferent shapes.  The  Chinese  name,  and  that  given  it  by  the  North 
American  Indians,  have  both  reference  to  this  fancied  figure  of  a man. 
If  Ginseng  be  admitted  into  the  Materia  Medica,  it  must  be  arrang- 
ed with  demulcents,  being  nearly  allied  to  liquorice.  It  will  be  per- 
ceived, on  chewing  the  root,  that  the  first  impression  on  the  palate  is 
that  of  a saccharine  substance  : and  on  further  mastication  it  is  some- 
what mucilaginous  and  slightly  bitter,  with  a little  aromatic  flavour. 
It  has  little  or  no  odour.  According  to  Lewis,  it  is  much  sweeter  and 
more  grateful  than  roots  of  fennel,  which  it  is  said  to  resemble  ; and 
differs  remarkably  from  those  roots,  in  the  nature  and  pharmaceutic 
properties  of  its  active  principles;  the  sweet  matter  of  the  Ginseng- 
being  preserved  entire  in  the  watery  as  well  as  in  the  spirituous  ex- 

horseback,  a Mandarin  who  was  in  company  with  us,  perceiving  it,  gave  me  one  of 
these  roots;  I took  half  of  it  immediately,  and  an  hour  afterwards,  I was  not  the  least 
sensible  of  any  weariness.  I have  often  made  use  of  it  since,  and  always  with  the  same 
success.  I have  observed  also,  that  the  green  leaves,  and  especially  the  fibrous  parts 
of  them,  chewed,  would  produce  nearly  the  same  effect.”  Phil.  Trans,  vol.  xxviii.  p.  £39. 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


201 


tract;  whereas,  that  of  fennel  roots  is  destroyed  or  dissipated  in  the 
inspissation  of  the  watery  tincture.  He  further  remarks,  that  the 
slight  aromatic  impregnation  of  the  Ginseng  is  in  a great  measure 
retained  in  the  watery  extract,  and  perfectly  so  in  the  spirituous.* 

This  root  may  likewise  be  considered  as  a gentle  and  innocent 
stimulant,  producing  stomachic  effects,  and  with  this  view  it  may  be 
safely  and  perhaps  quite  advantageously  used.  It  is  not  uncommon 
to  use  it  as  a masticatory:  and  referring  to  the  effects  on  the  stomach, 
this  cannot  be  esteemed  an  injurious  article. 

Alcohol  precipitates  a gummy  mucilage  from  its  solution  in  water. 
It  contains  no  resin  nor  tannin.  The  extract  is  said  to  be  a good  pre- 
paration for  medicinal  purposes,  and  is  recommended  by  Dr.  Fother- 
gill  as  a demulcent  in  the  tupis  senilis,  or  tedious  chronic  cough  of 
old  people. 

* Mat.  Med.  p.  325. 


VOL.  II. 


27 


SOS 


Panax  quinquefolium. 


TABLE  XLY. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  an  entire  plant  of  Ginseng,  severed  from  the 
root,  of  the  size  of  nature. 

а.  The  root — this  is  a common  form — sometimes  there  are  three 

fusiform  processes,  and  often  two  or  three  such  roots  as 
here  figured,  connected  together. 

3.  A fertile  flower,  with  an  involucrate  leaf  appended  to  the 

pedicel,  much  magnified. 

4.  A barren  flower,  also  magnified. 

5.  A stamen. 

б.  The  calix,  with  the  stamens  and  styles  visible  above. 


s 


. 1 1 1 fur.  - //// 1 / 7?c Ift art. 


FANMC  'QTOjSTQBEF  0 T.  HIM 


ZANTHORHIZA  APIIFOLIA. 


PARSLEY-LEAYED  YELLOW-ROOT,  OR  YELLOW-WORT. 

Shrub  Yellow-root. 

Germ.  Sellerieblattrige  Gelbwurz. 

Zanthorhiza  apiifolia.  L’Herit.  stirp.  i.  p.  79.  t.  38.  Ait.  Kew.  i.  p.  399.  Willd. 
arb.  414.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  Tom.  1.  par.  ii.  p.  1568.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal-Am.  vol. 
i.  p.  186.  Muhl.  Cat.  ed.  2d,  p.  33.  Stokes,  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  vol.  ii.  p.  194. 
Marshall,  Arb.  Am.  168.  Woodhouse,  in  New  York  Med.  Rep.  ix.  291. 
Juss.  Gen.  PI.  p.  234.  Elliott,  FI.  Geo.  and  Car.  vol.  i.  p.  376.  Barton’s 
Cullen,  vol.  ii.  p.  57.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  vol.  i.  p.  207.  Dyck.  Edin.  Disp. 
p.  504.  Thacher’s  Disp.  ed.  3d,  p.  386.  Coxe’s  Disp.  ed.  3d,p.  669.  Pursh,  FI. 
Am.  Sep.  vol.  i.  p.  212.  Barton’s  Collections,  3d  ed.  par.  i.  p.  11. 

ZANTHORHIZA. 

Gen.  PI.  ed.  Schreb.  1581. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  i lanunculacese. 

Nat.  Ord.  Lin. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Pcntandria.  Ordo  Polygynia. 

Cal.  0.  Petala  5.  Nectaria  5-pedicellata.  Caps.  5.  Monospermse. 

Calix  none.  Petals  five.  Lepanthia  five,  pedicellate.  Capsules  five  to  eight,  1-seeded, 
semi-bivalve. 

Zanthorhiza  apiifolia;  frutex  humilis  tripedalis.  Folia  alterna  impari-pinnata,  fo- 
liolis  ovato-cuneiformibus,  inciso-dentatis,  terminali  trilobo  inciso.  Flores 
atroviolacei  paniculati  terminalis.  W. 


204 


Zanthorhiza  apiifolia. 


SYNONYM  A. 

Zanthorhiza  tinctoria.  Woodhouse. 

Zanthorhiza  simplicissima.  Marshall. 

Zanthorhiza  Marbosia.  Bar  tram. 

PHARM. 

Zanthorhiza  apiifolise.  Cortex  et  lignum  radicis.  Cortex  caulis. 

This  small  slirub  is  from  two  to  three  feet  high;  and  is  a native  of 
the  southern  atlantic  states,  where  it  is  principally  restricted  to  the 
mountains.  It  is  abundant  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and  in  the  upper 
districts  of  Carolina,  near  the  mountains.  The  root  is  horizontal,  send- 
ing off  numerous  suckers.  The  stem  is  simple,  the  bark  smooth,  but 
covered  on  the  young  shoots  with  angular  fissures,  and  the  wood  is 
bright  yellow.  The  leaves  are  triternate,  simply  or  doubly  pseudo- 
pinnate,  crowded  together  at  the  upper  portion  of  the  stem.  Leaflets 
broad-lanceolate,  or  ovate-lanceolate,  acute,  doubly  serrated,  sessile, 
of  a yellow-green  colour,  smooth  above,  and  slightly  pubescent  un- 
derneath, supported  by  long  petioles  swelling  at  the  base  into  an  am- 
plexicaule  sheath.  Flowers  in  divided  racemes,  drooping  below  the 
leaves,  of  a dark  purple  colour,  with  obovate,  bilobed,  deep  purple 
nectaries.  Germs  superior,  flattened,  from  five  to  nine  in  number, 
crowned  by  styles  which  vary  from  two  to  eight.  Capsules  inflated  and 
compressed,  one-celled,  two-valved,  opening  at  the  apex.  Seeds  oval 


Zantkorhiza  apiifolia. 


205 


and  flattened.  The  period  of  florescence  is  April.  The  specific  name 
tinctoria  was  given  to  it  by  the  late  Professor  Woodhouse  in  allusion 
to  its  dying  property,  that  of  Marbosiaby  Bartram  in  honour  of  M.  de 
Marbois — but  as  L’Heritier’s  name  seems  most  appropriate  I have 
adopted  it. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

The  medical  virtues  of  this  shrub  are  those  of  a very  pure  tonic 
bitter.  Both  the  wood  and  bark  of  the  root  may  be  used,  but  only  the 
bark  of  the  stems,  according  to  Dr.  Woodhouse.  The  shrub  contains 
a gum  and  a resin,  both  intensely  bitter;  the  resin  is  more  abundant 
than  the  gum. 

Dr.  Woodhouse  used  the  powdered  stem  and  root  in  the  dose  of 
two  scruples  for  an  adult,  combined  with  other  remedies,  in  many 
of  those  cases  in  which  bitters  are  recommended.  It  agrees  well 
with  the  stomach,  and  as  a strong  and  pleasant  bitter,  it  may  be  consi- 
dered as  a useful  addition  to  the  Materia  Medica.  It  was  the  opinion 
of  the  late  Professor  Barton,  that  the  Zanthorhiza  was  a more  intense 
bitter  than  Columbo.  He  thought  the  bitterness  of  the  wood  of  the 
root  was  not  so  great  as  of  the  bark.  Sulphat  of  iron  does  not  alter 
the  colour  of  an  infusion  of  the  bark  of  this  root  in  hot  water.  Yet 
its  after  taste  of  acrimony  or  pungency  on  the  palate  seems  to  jus- 
tify the  opinion,  that  it  is  a less  pure  bitter  than  Columbo — though 
very  nearly  allied  to  it. 


206 


Zanthorhiza  apiifolia. 


(Economical  uses. 

The  yellow  juice  of  this  plant  imparts  a drab  colour  to  woollen 
cloth,  and  a fine  yellow  to  silk ; neither  cotton  nor  linen,  however, 
imbibes  any  of  it.  With  a proper  mordant,  it  would  in  all  probability 
be  a valuable  native  dye.  The  infusion  in  hot  water  is  very  yellow. 

The  watery  extract  of  the  grated  roots  mixed  with  alum,  and 
added  to  Prussian  blue,  was  used  by  Mr.  John  Bartram,  for  colouring 
plants  and  the  green  plumage  of  birds.  This  mixture  is  said  to  have 
produced  a more  lively  colour  than  the  mixture  of  Prussian  blue  and 
Gamboge,  and  stands  well  in  the  shade,  but  acquires  a dull  olive 
colour  on  exposure  to  heat  or  a strong  light. 


TABLE  XLVI. 

Represents  a flowering  twig  of  Zanthorhiza  apiifolia,  of  its  natural 
size,  dra  .vn  from  a specimen  taken  from  Bartram’s  Gar- 
den, Kingsess. 


ZAWT H OlfflSl  jygHIFOILiA 

( jPa  *cl«v>lc  o vc  & lrcll.o>v-K»ot.  or  Yellow'\Vo,i-4.  ! 


LOBELIA  SIPHILITICA. 


BLUE  CARDINAL  FLOWER. 


Blue  Lobelia,  or  Cardinal  Flower. 

French.  Lobelie  syphilitique ; Cardinale  bleue. 

Italien.  Lobelia  sifilitica. 

Span.  La  siphilitica. 

Germ.  Blaue  Kardinals  blume,  Gemeine  Lobelie. 

Engl.  Blue  cardinal’s  flower. 

Dutch.  Pokkige  Lobelia. 

Danish.  Kopper-Lobelise. 

Lobelia  siphilitica.  L.  Hort.  Cliff.  426.  Mat.  Med.  194.  Amoen.  Academ.  iv.  p.  527. 
Gron.  Virg.  134.  Kniph.  Cent.  8.  n.  60.  Moris.  Hist.  ii.  p.  466.  s.  5.  t.  5.  f.  55. 
Dodart.  Mem.  297.  Rob.  ic.  Houttuvp.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  x.  p.  66.  L.  Sp.  PI. 
1320.  Mant.  482.  Hort.  Kew.  iii.  284.  Woodville,  i.  177.  t.  63.  Drake’s  Piet. 
Cin.  p.  87.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  p.  30.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  vol.  ii.  p.  61. 
Boerh.  i.  250.  Chisholm,  25.  Lew.  Disp.  by  Dune.  249.  Pearson,  J.  account 
from,  in  Ann.  Med.  Lustr.  II.  i.  271.  and  Chir.  Rev.  vii.  161.  Barton’s  Col- 
lections, ed.  3d,  part  i.  p.  56.  Lew.  ii.  73.  Monro,  iii.  160;  Sold.  ii.  243.  Murr. 
i.  514.  Stokes,  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  i.  p.  242.  Rush,  i.  31.  Schoepf,  128.  Vog.  108. 
Mather,  in  Phil.  Trans.  Abr.  by  Jones,  part  ii.  160.  and  by  Hutton,  vi.  86. 
Chapman,  Elem.Therap.  and  Mat.  Med.  i.  p.  272.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal-Am.  vol. 


208 


Lobelia  siphilitica. 


ii.  p.  151.  Elliot,  FI.  Car.  and  Geor.  vol.  i.  p.  266.  Muhl.  Cat.  ed.  2d,  p.  22. 
Pursli,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  vol.  ii.  p.  447.  Jacq.  ic.  3.  t.  597.  Dyck.  Edin.  Disp.  p. 
306.  Coxe,  Disp.  ed.  3d,  p.  404.  Thacker’s  Disp.  ed.  3d,  p.  271.  Walt.  FI. 
Car.  p.  218.  D.  Dodart.  Memoirs,  &c.  p.  297.  Nutt.  Gen.  Am.  PI.  ii.  p.  77. 
Lobelia  siphilitica ; erccta,  simplex,  pistilla ; foliis  ovato-Ianceolatis  subserratis, 
racemo  folioso,  calicibus  hirsutis,  sinubus  reflexis.  fVilld.  and  Pursh. 

Erect,  simple,  a little  hairy;  leaves  ovate-lanceolate,  subserrate,  raceme  leafy; 
ealices  hirsute,  with  the  divisions  reflexed. 


SYNONYMA. 

Raptjntipm  Americanum  ; flore  dilute  cceruleo.  Tournefort  and  Boerh. 
Rapunculus  galeatus  Virginianus,  flore  violaceo-majore.  Moris. 

Rapunculus  Americanus,  flore  cceruleo.  Dodart. 

Lobelia  reflexa.  Stokes. 

Trachelium  Americanum,  flore  cceruleo.  Rob.  ic. 

T an  tuttipang.  Mather,  in  Phil.  Trans. 

PHARM. 

Lobelia  siphiliticae.  Radix. 

Qual.  lactescens,  acris,  nauseosa. 

Uses,  diuretica,  pellens,  purgans,  emetica. 

DESCRIPTIO  UBERIOR. 

Cuulis  simplex  erectus  pedalis,  angulis  pilis  rigidulis  a folio  rum  marginibus  decurren- 
tibus.  Folia  alterna  sessilia  latius  lanceolata  serrata  scabriuscula.  Flores 


Lobelia  siphilitica. 


209 


axillares  solitarii  brevissime  pediculati  coerulei.  Calioc  serrato-denticulatus ; 
laciniis  lanceolajtjs,  sirmbus  reflexis,  germen  tegentibus  (ut  in  Campar.ulis  Me- 
dio, etc.)  Corolla  coerulea  anguiata,  laciniis  sub?equalibus  carina  ciliatis, 
palato  2 gibbositatibus.  Mant.  482. 

We  have  already  figured  and  described  two  species  of  the  genus 
to  which  this  fine  plant  belongs;  and,  as  in  them,  the  root  of  this  one 
is  perennial,  fibrous,  acrid,  and  nauseous.  The  stem  is  erect,  angled 
and  simple,  hirsute  above,  destitute  of  pubescence  below,  and  from 
one  to  three  feet  high.  It  is  sometimes  though  rarely  branched.  The 
leaves  are  crenulate,  larger  below  titan  above ; those  near  the  root, 
and  the  lower  portion  of  the  stem,  are  lanceolate,  elliptical,  sessile, 
strongly  veined,  somewhat  shining,  and  irregularly  and  finely  denti- 
culate on  the  margin.  Those  above  are  lanceolate  and  also  denticulate, 
veined  and  smooth.  As  in  the  cardinal  plant,  the  leaves  gradually 
diminish  in  size,  particularly  in  length,  from  the  bottom  upwards, 
giving  the  plant  a pyramidal  appearance  when  in  full  bloom.  The 
flowers  are  supported  on  short  bracteated  pedicels,  arranged  on 
long,  leafy,  terminal,  and  sometimes  axillary  spikes.  The  flowers  are 
Prussian  blue,  blended  with  white  on  the  under  side,  the  buds  being 
tinged  with  yellow,  and  the  inner  side  of  the  latinise  of  the  co- 
rolla of  a darker  blue.  The  calix  consists  of  five  hastate,  hispid 
segments,  ciliated  on  the  margin,  and  reflexed  at  either  side.  The 
bracteal  leaves,  at  the  base  of  the  pedicels,  are  likewise  ciliated.  The 
filaments  are  lead-blue,  the  anthers  white,  and  projecting  conspicu- 
ously inside  of  the  upper  segment  of  the  corolla.  The  flowers  are 


vol.  n. 


28 


210 


Lobelia  siphilitica. 


apt  to  fade  white,  without  great  care,  in  drying  for  the  herbarium. 
This  elegant  plant  displays  its  flowers  in  August  and  September, 
and  is  a very  common  inhabitant  of  meadows,  the  margins  of  rivers 
and  small  waters,  and  the  borders  of  watery  thickets. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

Lobelia  siphilitica  is  a lactescent,  acrid,  and  rank-smelling  plant, 
particularly  the  root,  which  alone,  seems  to  be  useful  for  medicinal 
purposes.  It  has  found  its  way  into  the  works  on  Materia  Medica, 
by  its  reputed  efficacy  in  curing  siphilis  among  the  Indians  of  this 
country.  The  use  of  the  plant  with  this  view,  was  long  preserved  as 
an  important  secret  among  them,  until  it  was  purchased  by  sir  Wil- 
liam Johnson,  who  made  it  known  to  Europeans,  and  since  then  it 
has  been  repeatedly  tried  under  every  favourable  circumstance  by 
physicians  of  eminence,*  and  the  result  has  been,  that  its  reputed 
antisiphilitic  powers  are  no  longer  credited.  Indeed,  it  seems 
probable,  that  the  Indians  themselves  did  not  trust  in  the  cure  of 
true  siphilis  to  this  herb,  but  used,  in  conjunction  with  it,  the  bark  of 
Wild  cherry,  (Prunus  Virginiana)  the  root  of  May-apple,  (Podophyl- 

* Bcsbois  de  Rochefort  and  others  have  administered  this  root  in  Siphilis  without 
the  least  success:  and  Pearson,  in  his  work  on  the  effects  of  various  articles  in  the  cure 
of  siphilis,  corroborates  the  worthlessness  of  the  herb  in  that  disease.  I have  myself 
used  it  in  more  than  five  or  six  cases,  without  perceiving  the  slightest  benefit. 


2 


Lobelia  siphilitica . 


21  L 

lum  peltatum)  and  many  other  plants.*  They,  in  general,  had  re- 
course  to  the  advice  of  Europeans,  when  attacked  with  this  disease, 
not  reposing  entire  confidence  in  their  own  inefficient  plan  of  treat- 
ment. Dr.  Barton  was  of  opinion  that  the  plant  had  cured  gonorrhoea, 
and  speaks  confidently  on  this  point,  believing  that  it  operated  bene- 
ficially in  this  complaint,  by  the  diuretic  virtues,  which  it  certainly 
possesses.  Dr.  Chapmanf  mentions  that  some  of  the  western  physi- 
cians resort  to  it  for  the  cure  of  dropsy  with  success;  but  does  not 
himself  speak  of  any  personal  experience  on  this  point.  It  appears 
to  act  frequently  as  a sudorific,  a purgative,  and  an  emetic. 

The  root  is  to  be  given  in  decoction  in  the  proportion  of  half  an 
ounce  to  one  or  two  pounds  of  water ; and  also  in  extract,  of  which 
from  five  to  twenty  grains  made  into  pills,  may  be  given.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  omit  the  medicine  when  purging  or  vomiting  is  induced.  The 
directions  given  for  its  use,  with  a view  to  cure  siphilis,  are  as  follow: 
“ a decoction  is  made  of  a handful  of  the  roots  in  three  measures  of 
water.  Of  this,  half  a measure  is  taken  in  the  morning  fasting,  and  re- 
peated in  the  evening;  and  the  dose  is  gradually  increased  till  its  pur- 
gative effects  become  too  violent,  when  the  decoction  is  to  be  inter- 
mitted for  a day  or  two,  and  then  renewed  till  a perfect  cure  is  effect- 
ed. During  the  use  of  this  medicine,  a proper  regimen  is  to  be  en- 
joined, and  the  ulcers  are  also  to  be  frequently  washed  with  the  de- 


* Barton’s  Collections.  f Elera.  Therap.  and  Mat.  Med. 


212 


Lobelia  syphilitica. 


coction,  or  if  deep  and  foul,  to  be  sprinkled  with  the  powder  of  the 
inner  bark  of  the  New  Jersey  tea-tree,  (Ceanothus  Americanos.)”* 
This  plan  is  said  to  cure  the  disease  in  a very  short  time ; but  we  have 
already  given  sufficient  reasons  for  want  of  confidence  in  it. 

TABLE  XLVII. 

Fig.  1.  Represents  the  upper  portion  of  Lobelia  siphilitica,  in  flower. 

2.  An  outline  of  a leaf  near  the  bottom. 

3.  A flower  separated,  with  the  leaf  always  appended  to  the 

peduncle. 

4.  The  corolla,  cut  open. 

5.  The  calix,  With  the  column  of  stamens  and  pistil, 
fi.  The  pistil  and  germ. 

(All  the  size  of  nature.) 


* Woodville,  Med.  Bot. 


-Fia  2.\ 


fivm  jVaiu/v  by  W.  J?  C.  JBarran. 


Tanner  Valla  nee.  Kearny  & Ca.  Sc. 


MBJElLilEA  SIFMY]LITI(DA 

( BJmue  (Cairdimial  Plaint,,) 


PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 


POKE. 


Pigeon-berries.  Garget.  Poke-weed.  Cocum.  Jalap  Cancer-root.  Skoke,  or  Coakum. 

American-Nightshade. 

Germ.  Gemeine  Rermesbeere.  Die  Americanische  Scharlachbere  oder  Rermesbeere ; 

Americanischer  Nachtschatten ; Virginische  Purgaze. 

Dutch.  Tienmannige  lakplant. 

Engl.  The  branching  Phytolacca  or  Virginian  Poke.  The  mountain  Calalse  or 
Pok-weed. 

French.  Morelle  a grappes ; Grand  morelle  des  Indes ; Vermillion  plante ; Herbedela 
laque  ; Mechoacan  du  Canada ; Rasin  d’Amerique. 

Italian.  Pianta  lacca. 

Span.  Hierba  carmin. 

Phytolacca  decandra.  L.  Hort.  Cliff.  177.  Hort.  Ups.  117.  Mat.  Med.  118.  Gron. 
Virg.  161.  Mill.  Ulus.  Reg.  Bot.  Blackw.  t.  515.  Du  Roi.  Harbk.  ii.  p.  7. 
Hal.  Helv.  n.  1007.  Dill.  elth.  318.  t.  339.  f.  309.  Mill.  Diet.  n.  1.  Pluk.  Aim. 
353.  t.  225.  f.  3.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  vi.  p.  693.  Bart.  Collections,  3d 
ed.  par.  ii.  p.  27.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  52.  Bart.  Comp.  FI.  Ph.  i.  p.  219. 
Pursh,  FI.  Am.  Sep.  vol.  i.  p.  324.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal-Am.  vol.  i.  p.  278.  Drake’s 
Piet.  Cin.  p.  85.  Stokes,  Bot.  Mat.  Med.  vol.  ii.  p.  566.  Bry.  126.  L.  Sp. 
PI.  631.  Hort.  Kevv.  ii.  122.  Bot.  Mag.  t.  931.  Cutler,  447.  Dill.  Hort.  318. 


214 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


t.  239.  f.  309.  Boerh.  ii.  70.  Sloane,  Cat.  84.  Raii.  Hist.  662.  Park,  tlieatr. 
347.  Munt.  Phyt.  23.  t.  112.  Dale,  168.  173.  Schoepf,  71.  Vo g.  114.  Murr. 
iv.  335.  Geoffr.  suite,  i.  403.  Lew.  Disp.  by  Duncan,  345.  Chom.  787.  Rush, 
i.  259.  Clayt.  in  Pli.  Tran.  abr.  by  Hutt.  viii.  331.  Amcen.  Academ.  vol.  iv. 
p.  524.  Muhl.  Cat.  ed.  2d,  p.  47.  Puihn.  Mat.  Med.  Venenar.  p.  93.  Nutt.  Gen. 
Am.  PI.  vol.  i.  p.  293.  Coxe’s  Disp.  ed.  3d,  p.  477.  Edin.  Disp.  by  Dyck.  p. 
337.  Big.  Med.  Bot.  vol.  i.  p.  39.  Thach.  Disp.  ed.  3d,  p.  312. 


PHYTOLACCA. 


Gen.  PI.  800. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Polygonese. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Decandria.  Ordo  Decagynia. 

Cal.  0.  Pet.  5-calycina.  Bacca  supera,  10-locularis,  10-sperma. 

Calix  5-leaved,  petaloid.  Berry  superior,  10-cclled,  10-seeded. 

Phytolacca  decandra;  foliis  ovatis  utrinque  acutis,  floribus  decagynis. 

Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Leaves  ovate,  acute  at  each  end ; flowers  decandrous  decagynous. 

SYNON1MA. 

Phytolacca  Americana  ; majori  fructu.  Clayt.  Chom.  Boerh. 

Phytolacca  vulgaris  fructus  et  flores.  Dill. 

Solanum  racemosum  Americanum.  Raii,  Sloane,  Pluk. 

Solanum  magnum  Virginianum  rubrum.  Park. 

Blitum  Americanum.  Munt. 


Phytolacca  decandra . 


2i5 


PHARM. 


Phytolacca  decandrse.  Herba  recens,  succus,  radix,  baccae. 


The  Poke  is  a well-known,  large,  rank  plant,  growing  abundantly  in 
every  part  of  the  United  States,  in  wastes,  rubbish,  and  near  fences 
and  road  sides.  It  grows  to  the  height  of  six  or  eight  feet,  and 
sometimes  attains  even  a greater  stature.  The  root  is  very  large, 
often  five  or  six  inches  in  diameter,  and  consists  of  a solid,  but 
soft,  fleshy,  fibrous  mass  of  whitish  colour.  It  is  branched  in  one 
or  two  large  portions ; when  dried,  it  becomes  light  and  spongy. 
The  stem  is  thick,  round,  much  branched  and  very  glabrous ; the 
branches  are  large,  and  spread  in  various  directions,  giving  the  plant 
a breadth  of  four  or  five  feet.  The  leaves  are  ovate,  narrowed  at 
each  end,  acute,  strongly  veined  on  the  under  surface,  and  very 
smooth  on  both  sides.  They  are  frequently  tinged  near  the  base 
and  along  the  costa  with  purple,  and  when  old  are  quite  reddish. 
Those  situated  on  the  lower  portions  of  the  stem  and  branches  are 
very  large,  often  nine  or  ten  inches  in  length;  the  upper  are 
considerably  smaller;  and  all  of  them  are  supported  on  short  foot- 
stalks. The  stems  are  at  first  green,  but  become  afterwards  of  a fine 
purple  hue.  The  flowers  are  small,  numerous,  and  borne  on  long 
racemes,  sometimes  erect,  and  often  drooping,  as  is  the  case  with  the 
berries.  The  corolla  consists  of  five  small,  ovate,  concave  petals, 
folding  inwards ; there  is  no  calix.  Stamens,  ten  in  number,  shorter 


210 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


than  the  petals,  with  double  white  anthers.  The  pistils  are  ten,  con- 
sisting of  a flattened,  globose,  ten-furrowed  green  germ,  and  ten  short 
recurved  styles.  The  berries  are  deep  blackish  purple,  and  very 
shining,  crowned  with  the  persistent  styles.  They  are  full  of  a fine 
purplish  red  juice.  The  pedicels  of  the  flowers  are  variously  co- 
loured, being  sometimes  white,  green  and  yellow,  and  often  red ; 
and  when  the  berries  are  quite  ripe,  are  of  a fine  carmine  hue.  This 
plant  commences  flowering  in  July, and  sometimes  continues  in  bloom 
during  the  whole  summer.  It  is  common  to  find  flowers,  and  the 
green  and  ripe  berries  for  a length  of  time,  on  the  same  stalk.  It  is 
a native  of  the  South  of  Europe,  some  parts  of  Africa,  and  North 
America. 

CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS. 

We  are  indebted  to  M.  Braconnot*  for  an  excellent  chemical  ana- 
lysis of  this  vegetable.  According  to  this  chemist,  the  Poke  contains 
an  unusual  quantity  of  vegetable  alkali  in  neutral  combination  with 
a peculiar  acid  allied  to  the  malic,  but  in  his  opinion,  a mean  between 
this  and  the  oxalic  acids.  In  his  experiments  with  the  colouring 
matter  of  the  berries,  M.  Braconnot  discovered  that  a yellow  liquor, 
formed  by  the  combination  of  the  purple  juice  of  the  ripe  berries 
and  lime  water,  was  a very  delicate  test  of  the  presence  of  an  acid. 


* Annales  de  Chimie,  voL  Ixxii. 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


217 


A few  drops  of  lime  water  added  to  the  juice  produces  a change  to 
a yellow  colour;  the  purple  is  again  reproduced  by  a similar  por- 
tion of  acid.  M.  Braconnot’s  comparative  experiments  with  respect 
to  the  sensibility  of  litmus  paper  and  this  yellow  liquor,  resulted  in 
the  fact,  that  one-fourth  the  number  of  drops  of  weak  acid  were  suf- 
ficient to  restore  the  pristine  purple  of  the  yellow  compound,  which 
were  necessary  to  redden  litmus  paper.  The  yellow  liquor,  however, 
must  be  used  as  soon  as  made,  as  it  changes  in  a short  time.  For 
a more  detailed  account  of  the  chemical  analysis,  I refer  to  the  me- 
moir of  M.  Braconnot,  already  quoted,  and  to  the  dissertation  of  Dr. 
Shultz. 

(Economical  uses. 

The  turiones  of  this  plant  are  cut  near  the  ground  when  about 
three  or  four  inches  high,  and  brought  in  great  abundance  to  the 
Philadelphia  market,  as  a table  vegetable.  These  young  shoots, 
when  they  have  had  a rapid  growth,  and  the  acrid  juices  of  the  plant 
have  not  become  evolved  by  air  and  light,  are  innocent;  and,  by 
some  persons  esteemed  delicious.  When  well  boiled  and  dressed 

U.  - , • - 

in  the  same  manner  as  asparagus,  they  are  easily  digested.  Yet 
this  practice  is  not  without  danger;  and  I have  known  an  in- 
stance in  a family  in  Lancaster,  in  which  very  violent  narcotic  effects 
were  induced  in  several  persons  who  had  eaten  of  the  young 

29 


VOL.  II. 


218 


Phytolacca  decanclra. 


shoots  of  Poke.  The  probability  is,  that  in  the  instance  alluded  to, 
the  shoots  were  too  old,  and  had  acquired  the  proper  active  juice  of 
the  plant. 

It  is  common  to  make  a red  ink  from  Poke-berry  juice,  with  the 
addition  of  alum.  The  colour,  however,  is  evanescent,  and  the  alum 
does  not  appear  to  be  a sufficient  mordant.  We  are  indebted  to  Dr. 
Adam  Seybert,  the  author  of  American  Statistics,  for  a discovery  of 
the  means  of  fixing  the  colour  of  these  berries.  Yet,  I am  sorry  to 
be  unable  to  refer  to  his  experiments,  which  were  only  published  in 
a newspaper,  not  known  to  me ; and  the  author  being  absent,  I can- 
not obtain  any  information  on  the  subject. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

Many  medicinal  virtues  have  been  attributed  to  Poke:  but  we  shall 
select  those  only  which  are  prominent  and  authenticated.  The 
tincture  of  the  ripe  berries  in  brandy,  seems  to  have  acquired  a well 
founded  reputation  as  a remedy  for  chronic  and  siphilitic  rheuma- 
tism, and  for  allaying  syphyloid  pains;  and  its  effects  have  been 
compared  to  those  of  the  volatile  tincture  of  guaiacum.  It  is  con- 
fidently recommended  in  cases  which  indicate  the  use  of  that  arti- 
cle, as  a safe  and  efficacious  remedy,  under  judicious  management. 
The  late  Professor  Barton  believed  it  to  be  a more  valuable  medi- 


2 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


219 


cine  than  the  guaiacum — and  recommended,  as  did  Dr.  Shultz,*  the 
simultaneous  exhibition  of  calomel  and  other  preparations  of  mercury 
with  it.  He  says  he  has  “ employed  the  ripe  juice  of  the  berries, 
inspissated  to  the  state  of  an  extract,  in  some  cases  of  scrophula;” 
but  does  not  state  the  result  of  his  trials.  The  tincture  of  Poke  is 
much  used  in  this  city  by  some  highly  respectable  practitioners,  in 
rheumatism,  and  with  undiminished  contidence  in  its  efficacy. 

Poke  has  had  no  inconsiderable  reputation  as  a remedy  for  cancer; 
but,  notwithstanding  some  high  names  were  enlisted  in  support  of 
the  accounts  of  its  efficacy,  it  has  deservedly  lost  its  character  as  a 
cancer-remedy.  It  is  most  likely  that  it  was  found  serviceable  in  ill- 
conditioned,  sluggish  ulcers,  which  are  too  frequently  mistaken  for 
real  cancer,  and  thus  give  undue  reputation  to  the  curative  article 
employed.  That  Poke  in  extract,  and  in  form  of  ointment,  has  done 
good  in  obstinate  cutaneous  affections,  there  seems  no  fair  reason 
to  doubt.  It  is  true  the  accounts  of  the  efficacy  of  these  prepara- 
tions, have  been  greatly  exaggerated;  but  still  there  remains  a suffi- 
cient portion  of  respectable  testimony,  to  accredit  the  claims  of  the 
article  as  a good  local  stimulating  remedy  in  such  affections.  That 
it  has  cured  obstinate  cases  of  tinia  capitis,  is  not  probable ; for  it 
is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that  this  very  pertinacious  disease  of 
the  scalp,  would  yield  to  an  article  of  so  little  activity  in  local  ap- 
plications, as  either  the  ointment  or  extract  of  Poke. 


* See  Inaugural  Diss.  Univer.  Penn. 


H20 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


Some  oi'  the  physicians  of  the  eastern  states,  repose  great  confi- 
dence in  the  pulverised  root  of  Poke,  as  an  emetic.  They  inform  us 
that  in  doses  of  ten  or  twenty  grains,  it  operates  as  a certain  vomit.  It  is 
certain  that  Poke  root  produces  emesis  and  catharsis  violently,  as 
many  active  semi-narcotic  plants  do : and  it  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  in 
some  instances,  convulsions  and  narcotic  symptoms  have  supervened 
to  the  violent  vomiting  and  purging,  produced  by  the  internal  use  of 
Phytolacca.  Indeed,  the  convulsions  then  induced  have  been  long 
noticed,  and  Puihn  particularly  mentions  this  effect,  as  well  as  the 
drastic  purgative  power  of  the  root.  The  slowness  of  the  emetic  ope- 
ration of  Poke,  together  with  the  ambiguous  narcotic  symptoms  ac- 
companying it,  will,  in  all  likelihood,  prevent  any  general  recourse  to 
the  article  as  an  emetic. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  Poke  is  mentioned  in  Thacher’s  Dispen- 
satory, on  the  authority  of  some  physicians  of  Savannah,  to  be  ade- 
quate to  the  cure  of  siphilis  without  the  use  of  mercury , thus  adding 
another  ideal  virtue  to  a plant  already  extolled  beyond  its  medicinal 
worth.  Unfortunately  the  preposterous  idea  of  curing  this  virulent 
disease  by  means  of  herbs  alone , (sarsaparilla,  for  instance)  has  found 
some  few  proselytes  in  this  country:  hut  surely  the  idea  of  substi- 
tuting Poke  for  mercury,  ought  not  to  have  obtained  the  countenance 
of  the  respectable  compiler  of  the  American  New  Dispensatory. 

The  extract  of  Poke  is  much  used  by  country  practitioners,  as  a dis- 
cutient  in  indolent  tumours:  and  it  is  said  they  are  in  the  habit  ol  in- 


Phytolacca  decandra. 


221 


fusing  the  root  in  wine,  in  the  proportion  of  an  ounce  of  the  former 
to  a pint  of  wine,  and  using  it  to  produce  vomiting,  in  the  dose  of 
two  spoonfuls.  A strong  infusion  of  the  leaves  taken  internally, 
has  also  been  recommended  in  hemorrhois.  On  its  efficacy  here, 
however,  1 cannot  help  suspecting,  there  is  but  little  reason  to  rely. 
The  Poke  ointment  is  made  by  boiling  the  fresh  leaves  in  hogs  lard 
and  bees  wax,  and  straining  while  hot ; or  it  may  be  made  by  pow- 
dering the  dried  leaves,  and  mixing  the  powder  with  lard  or  simple 
cerate.  The  tincture  may  either  be  made  by  infusing  the  ripe  ber- 
ries in  brandy  or  wine,  or  by  dissolving  the  extract  of  the  leaves  in 
their  green  or  dry  state,  in  spirit. 

An  extract  may  be  made  by  slowly  evaporating  the  expressed 
juice  of  the  recent  leaves  collected  in  July,  to  a proper  consistence. 

The  ointment  and  extract  produce  a sense  of  heat  and  smarting, 
when  first  applied. 

The  roots  should  be  collected  for  medical  use  in  the  autumn,  and 
sliced  transversely ; then  dried  and  kept  in  covered  bottles.  As  they 
lose  their  activity  in  time,  a fresh  supply  should  be  annually  collect- 
ed. The  leaves  ought  to  be  gathered  when  the  berries  are  ripe,  and 
used  as  already  directed. 


22  2 


Phytolacca  decandva. 


TABLE  XLYIII. 


Fig.  i.  Is  a flowering  twig  of  Phytolacca  decandra,  with  a bunch  of 
green  berries,  taken  from  the  upper  portion  of  a plant. 

2.  A cluster  of  ripe  berries,  with  a portion  of  the  coloured  stem, 
taken  from  the  lower  part  of  the  same  plant. 

(Both  the  size  of  nature.) 


3.  The  germ,  stamens  and  pistils,  magnified. 


' by  r/,: F CL 


JFMSrWM  JiC  CjSL  T:  Eg  1 .AYWTiDTK  jfl  . 


i Pnls i-,) 


LIATRIS  DUBIA. 


BLUE-BLAZING  STAR. 


Rattle-snake’s  master,  Button  snake-root. 


LIATRIS. 

Gen.  pi.  1263. 

Recept.  nudum.  Pappus  plumosus,  coloratus.  Cal.  oblongus,  imbricatus. 

Nat.  Syst.  Juss.  Corymbifera. 

Artific.  Syst.  Lin.  Classis  Syngenesia.  Oi’do  Jlqualis. 

Liatris  dubia;  radix  tuberosa,  radiculis  comosis.  Caulis  rectus,  lineatus,  hispido-pu» 
bescens.  Foliis  linearibus  lsevibus,  punctatis,  imis  multoties  majoribus;  supe- 
rioribus,  basi  ciliatis.  Spica  longafloribus  pedunculatis.  Pedunculi  pubescenti 
uniflori  elongati,  foliolis  aliquot  instructis.  Calix  oblongus  vel  sub-globosus  $ 
squamis  lanceolatis,  subacutis,  erectis,  verrucoso-punctatis,  imis  ciliatis. 
Corolla  tubulosa,  5-fidse  ; laciniis  lanceolatis.  Semina  oblonga,  angulata,  basin 
versus  attenuata.  B. 


This  plant  is  one  of  a genus  nearly  all  the  species  of  which  vary 
considerably,  particularly  in  those  marks  usually  supposed  charac- 


22-i 


Liatris  dubici. 


teristic,  as  the  sessile  or  pedicellated  flowers.  After  a very  careful 
examination  of  the  specimen  from  which  the  figure  was  drawn,  by 
the  descriptions  of  Pursh,  Michaux,  and  Willdenow,  together  with  a 
close  scrutiny  of  all  the  specimens  of  the  genus  in  the  JYluhlenber- 
gian  Herbarium,  I cannot,  to  my  own  satisfaction,  refer  the  plant  to 
any  of  the  named  species.  Yet  it  is  most  probably  not  remote 
from  the  spheroidea , scariosa , or  graminifolia.  In  this  hesitation  I have 
thought  it  best  to  add  the  doubtful  mark,  and  let  the  figure  and  de- 
scription I have  given,  establish  its  proper  place  among  the  described 
species. 

The  root  is  tuberous,  and  sends  off  a great  number  of  long,  slen- 
der, whitish,  dry,  fibrous  portions.  The  stem  is  erect,  in  the  speci- 
men figured,  three  and  a half  feet  high,  striated  with  whitish  lines, 
covered  with  a sparse  semi-hispid  pubescence.  The  lower  leaves  are 
longer,  and  much  wider  than  the  upper,  somewhat  arcuate,  very  much 
dotted  or  pitted,  glabrous,  entire,  sessile,  and  not  scabrous  on  the 
margin.  The  costa  is  prominent,  yellowish.  The  upper  leaves  are 
much  smaller  and  quite  linear,  ciliated  for  the  most  part  at  the  base, 
but  some  of  them  ciliated  two-thirds  of  their  length.  The  spike  is  very 
long,  and  leafy,  the  flowers  being  situated  on  long,  leafy,  pubescent 
pedicels.  The  calix  is  somewhat  cylindrical  or  sub-globose,  the  scales 
lanceolate,  subacute  and  erect,  slightly  spreading  at  the  bottom 
where  the  lowermost  scales  are  ciliated.  The  corolla  is  tubulous  and 
divided  into  five  lanceolate,  acute  segments;  and,  together  with  the  long, 
exserted  anthers,  are  of  a most  brilliant  and  delicate  violet  colour. 


Liatris  dubia. 


225 


All  the  leaves,  peduncles,  and  calix  scales  are  deeply  pitted  or  dot- 
ted, and  in  the  dried  specimen,  have  a verrucose  appearance.  The 
plant  flowers  in  the  last  of  September. 


MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

All  the  tuberous  rooted  species  of  the  genus  Liatris  are  active 
plants,  and  seem  to  be  uniformly  diuretic.  The  Liatris  macrostachya 
is  already  noticed  in  Dr.  Barton’s  Collections,  and  Schoepf  de- 
scribes the  L.  scariosa,  by  the  name  of  Rough-root  lobelia,  as 
an  acrid,  sub-bitter  plant,  possessed  of  diuretic  virtues,  and 
as  useful  in  Gonorrhoea.  He  states  that  the  root  has  been  pre- 
scribed with  this  view  in  weak  decoctions,  to  considerable  extent. 
Pursh  says  the  same  plant,  and  L.  squarrosa,  are  known  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  Carolina,  by  the  name 
of  “ Rattle  Snake’s  Master and  tells  us,  that  when  bitten  by 
that  animal,  they  bruise  the  bulbs  of  these  plants,  and  apply 
them  to  the  wounds,  while  at  the  same  time  they  make  a 
decoction  of  them  in  milk,  which  is  taken  inwardly,  in  the  same 
manner  as  Prenanthes  serpentaria.  I have  also  two  specimens 
of  Liatris  from  Mr.  Collins,  the  one  received  from  Mr.  Lyon,  and  col- 
lected by  him  in  Ohio  and  Tennessee,  under  the  name  of  Rattle-snake 
plant,  the  other  collected  by  Mr.  Collins  himself,  in  Cove,  or  North 
Mountain,  in  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania,  last  summer,  where 

30 


VOL.  II. 


226  Liatris  dubia. 

lie  learned  the  plant  was  used  for  curing  the  bite  of  the  Rattle-snake. 
These  two  specimens  do  not  materially  differ  from  the  plant  here 
figured,  which  was  received  by  me,  under  the  same  name  of  “ Rat- 
tle-snake root.’’  They  are  not  improbably  varieties  of  the  L.  sca- 
riosa,  graminifolia  or  spheroidea ; but  neither  of  them  agrees  well 
with  the  description  of  scariosa.*  For  the  present,  these  remarks 
are  thrown  together  principally  with  a view  to  elicit  information  re- 
specting the  medicinal  species  of  this  beautiful  genus  of  plants ; and  as 
the  plate  here  given,  is  a supernumerary  one  in  this  number,  the 
above  imperfect  account  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  excused. 

* The  following  remarks  are  from  Plukenet,  accompanying  his  Fig.  of  L.  scariosa: 

Fig.  4.  Tab.  1 77. 

Eupatoria  adfinis  Americana  bulbosa,  floribus  scariosa,  calicibus  contectis. 

Huic  in  capitulis  saltern  persimilis  exhibitum,  in  Hist.  III.  exic.  Reech.  sub  nomine  Xar- 
dro,  ut  bidesis,  pag.  196.  PlantapappescensnonlactescensVirginiana.  D.  Banister. 


2 


7i/4  ^ 


LIATBIIS  JIMTJBM 

( -BIim?  iBla.'jgiiflio'  ) 

ry 


Liatris  diibia. 


227 


TABLE  XLIX. 


1.  Represents  a portion  of  Liatris  dubia , near  the  root,  of  the 

natural  size. 

2.  An  upper  portion  of  the  same  specimen,  also  the  size  of 

nature. 

3.  A flower  separated,  very  little  magnified. 

4.  The  stamens. 


5.  The  same,  greatly  enlarged. 


OROBANCHE  UNIFLORA. 


ONE-FLOWERED  CANCER-ROOT. 


Germ.  Einblumige  Sommerwurz. 

Orobanche  uniflora.  L.  Sp.  PI.  882.  Walt.  Car.  166.  Rai.  Supp.  595.  Gron.  Virg. 
70.  Pluk.  Mant.  89.  t.  348.  f.  3.  Mitch.  25.  Houttuyn.  Lin.  Pfl.  Syst.  8.  p. 
152.  Mich.  FI.  Boreal-Am.  vol.  ii.  p.  26.  Muhl.  Cat.  ed.  2d,  61.  Pursh,  FI. 
Am.  Sep.  vol.  ii.  p.  431.  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  vol.  iii.  par.  1.  p.  352.  Bart.  Comp. 
FI.  Ph.  vol.  2d,  addenda.  Bart.  Prod.  FI.  Ph.  p.  66. 

Genus  Orobanche  (see  Orobanche  Virginiana,  p.  25.) 

Orobanche  uniflora;  scapis  nudis  unifloris  calice  ebracteato,  corolla  recurvata. 

Willd.  and  Pursh. 

Scapes  naked,  one-flowered  ; calix  without  bracts,  corolla  recurved. 

SYNONYMA. 

Orobanche  aut  Helleborine  aflinis  Marilandica,  &c.  Raii. 

Dentaria  s.  Aublato  cordi  aflinis,  &c.  Gron. 

Gentiana  minor  aurea,  &c.  Pluk. 

Aphyelon.  Mitch. 


PHARM. 


Orobanche  uniflorae.  Radix. 


230 


Orobanche  uniflora. 


One  species  of  this  genus  has  already  been  figured  and  described 
in  this  work,  under  the  name  of  Cancer-root ; and  a second  is  now 
noticed  for  reasons  presently  to  be  given. 

This  little  plant,  like  its  congener  just  alluded  to,  is  a leafless  para- 
site on  the  roots  of  trees  and  shrubs.  It  is  above  a span  high,  several 
scapes  proceeding  from  the  same  root.  The  root  is  gibbous  or  irre- 
gularly knobby,  and  sheathing  the  scapes  at  their  origin  from  it.  It 
is  of  a yellowish  colour.  The  scapes  are  tortuous  and  round,  about 
the  thickness  of  bobbin,  and  finely  pubescent  every  where,  but  espe- 
cially towards  the  upper  part ; and  of  a delicate  yellowish-white  hue, 
almost  imperceptibly  tinged  with  pink  near  the  flower.  The  flowers 
are  secund,  or  leaning  towards  one  side,  snow-white,  consisting  of  a 
recurved  inonopetalous  corolla,  and  a five-leaved  ebracteate  calix,  also 
white,  both  finely  and  densely  pubescent.  The  corolla  is  divided  into 
ovate,  obtuse  segments,  on  the  lower  of  which,  two  yellow  diverging 
nectaries  are  perceptible,  adding  a little  relief  to  the  white  flower. 
The  filaments  of  the  stamens  are  white,  and  the  anthers  yellowish. 
The  germ  is  ovate,  glabrous,  and  of  a tan-colour.  This  singular  little 
plant  delights  in  very  shady  situations  in  rich  woods,  and  has  but  a 
very  slight  attachment  by  its  root,  to  the  substance  on  which  it  grows ; 
it  is  in  flower  about  the  beginning  or  middle  of  May,  and  soon  fades 
when  culled.  It  is,  when  somewhat  advanced,  of  a yellowish  hue,  but  I 
have  always  found  the  plant  in  its  fresh  state,  of  the  colour  described 
above.  Pursh  mentions  that  it  is  but  two  or  three  inches  high,  of  a 
tan-colour,  and  the  flowers  pale-purple.  This  is  much  smaller  than 


Orobanche  unijlora. 


331 


I have  been  accustomed  to  meet  with  it  (and  in  this  neighbourhood 
it  is  far  from  being  rare)  and  I have  never  seen  specimens  having 
purple  flowers.  It  is  likely  the  one  described  by  Pursh,  is  a variety. 
It  must  be  noticed,  however,  that  Gronovius,  Willdenow  and  Pluke- 
net,  describes  the  flowers  as  pale  blue.*  It  is  possible,  therefore,  that 
the  plant  growing  in  this  vicinity,  and  which  I have  figured,  may  be 
a white  variety  of  the  blue-flowered  species.  Which  is  the  type  of 
the  species  I cannot  undertake  to  decide. 

MEDICINAL  PROPERTIES. 

I have  discovered,  since  the  publication  of  Nos.  5 and  6,  in  which 
Orobanche  Virginiana  is  described,  that  the  present  species  is  col- 
lected with  the  other,  and  used  with  it  under  the  name  of  Cancer- 
root.  My  enquiries  have  satisfied  me,  that  those  who  use  the  Cancer- 
root  already  described,  attribute  equal  power  to  the  present  species. 
I have  therefore,  given  a figure  of  the  plant  in  an  additional  plate, 
more  with  a view  to  direct  attention  to  it,  than  in  the  belief,  that  it 
has  yet  any  undisputed  claim  to  be  ranked  among  medicines.  Yet, 
I am  inclined  to  suspect  most  of  the  species  of  this  genus  to  be  pos- 
sessed of  active  properties. 


* Orobanche  uniflora— -Vagina  spathacea,  Flos  pallide  coeruleus,  cernuus.  Sp.Pl. 


332 


Orobciiiche  uniflora. 


TABLE  L. 

Fig.  l.  Orobanche  uniflora,  in  flower. 

2.  The  calix,  with  the  germ  and  style. 

3.  The  germ  and  style,  separated. 

(All  the  size  of  nature.) 


THE  END. 


7Vt6{e  &o. 


* 


JJravm  fi-om  A^aturr  6y  W2Zl  'Hart on. 


( Quae  -TFlowei'ic  d € aiicei-  - II©  ®t . 


INDEX 


TO  THE 


SYSTEMATIC  NAMES  AND  SYNONYMS. 

The  synonyms  are  in  Italics. 


A 


C 


Aristolochia  serpentaria  - - 41 

Acorus  Calamus  - - - - 65 

Asarum  Canatlense  85 

Aristolochia  pistolochia  - - - 41 

Acoruvn  legitimum  - - - 63 

Anapodophyllum  Canadense  - 9 

Asarum  latifoiium  85 

Asarum  Carolinianum  - - ib. 

Anemone  Gronlandica  - - - 97 


B 

Baptisia  tinctoria  - - - 53 

Blitum  Americanum  - - - - 213 


Coptis  trifolia  - - - 97 

Cunila  mariana  - - - 171 

Cbenopodium  anthelminticum  - 183 

Calamus  aromaticus  63 

/ 

Cortusa  Americana  - - - 159 

Cunila  pulegioides  ...  i65 

Calamintlia  erecta,  SfC.  - - 171 


E 


Eupatorium  perfoliatum  - - 1£5 

Epifagus  Virginiana  - - - 25 

Eupatorium  Virginianum  - 125 

Eupatorium  connatum  - - ib. 


VOL.  II 


31 


234 


Index  to  the  systematic  names  and  synonyms. 


F 

Frasera  Walteri 
Frasera  Caroliniensis 
Frasera  officinalis 
Frasera  verticillata 

G 

Gyromia  Virginica 

H 

Hydrastis  Canadensis  - 
Heucliera  Americana 
Hedeoma  pulegioides 
Hydrophyllum  verum,  $*c.  - 

Helleborus  trifolius 
Heuchera  cortusa 
Heucliera  viscida  - 

L 

Laurus  benzoin 
Lobelia  Cardinalis 
Lobelia  siphilitica 
Liatris  dubia 
Laurus  pseudo-benzoin 
Laurus  aestivalis  - 
Lobelia  coccinea 

Lobelia  rejlexa 
2 


M 

Medeola  Yirginica  - 143 

Medcola  verticillifolia  - - - ib. 

Mitella  Americana  - - - 159 

Melissa  pulegioides  - - - 165 

o 

Orobanche  Yirginiana  25 

Orobanche  uniflora  ...  229 

P 


Podophyllum  peltatum  9 

Polygala  seneka  - - - 111 

Panax  quinquefolium  - - - 1 191 

Phytolacca  decandra  - - 213 

Podalijria  tinctoria  - - - 53 

Polyrhizos  Virginiana  - - - 41 

Pistolochia  Virginiana  - - ib. 

Polygala  Virginiana  - - - 111 

Phytolacca  Americana  - - - 213 

Fhytolaccse  vulgaris,  Sfc.  - - ib. 


R 


Rubus  Villosus  - - - 151 

Rapuntium  galeatum,  <§*c.  - - 1 77 

Rapuntium  maximum , <Sfc.  - - ib. 

Rapuntium  Americanum  - - 207 


103 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 

143 

17 

159 

165 

17 

97 

159 

ib. 

91 

177 

207 

223 

- 91 

ib. 

177 

207 


Index  to  the  systematic  names  and  synonyms , 


235 


S 


w 


Spigelia  Marilandica  - - 75 

Sophora  tinctoria  - - - 53 

Spigelia  oppositifolia  - - - 75 

Spigelia  Americana  - - ib. 

Satureja  origanoides  - - - 171 

Solanum  racemosum  Americanum  - 213 

Solanum  magnum  Virginianum , Spc.  ib. 
Typha  aromatica  - - - 63 

Trachelium  Amerkanum  - - 177 


Warnera  Canadensis 

z 

Zanthorhiza  apiifolia 
Zanthorhiza  tinctoria 
Zanthorhiza  simplicissima  - 
Zanthorhiza  Marbosia  - 


- 17 


203 

ib. 

ib. 

ib. 


INDEX 

TO  THE 

ENGLISH  AND  VULGAR  NAMES. 


A 

American  Asarabacca 

85 

Allspice-bush  - 

- 91 

American  Columbo 

103 

Ague-weed  - 

- 125 

Alum -root  - 

159 

American  Sanicle  - 

- ib. 

American-Nightshade 

213 

B 

Beech-drops  - 

25 

Broom  ----- 

- 53 

Bone-set  - 

125 

Blackberry  - 

- 151 

Blue  Lobelia 

207 

Blue  Cardinal  Flower 

- ib. 

Button  Snake-root 

223 

Blue-blazing  Star  - 

- ib. 

Branching  Phytolacca,  or 

Virginian 

Poke  - 

- 213 

c 

Cancer-root 

25 

Calamus  - 

- 63 

Carolina  Pink-root 

75 

238 


Index  to  the  English  and  vulgar  names , 


Carolina  Pink 

- 

- 75 

Colt’s-foot  - 

- 

85 

Canada  Snake-root 

- 

- ib. 

Columbo 

- 

103 

Columbia 

- 

- ib. 

Col  umbo-root 

- 

ib. 

C ross-wort 

- 

- 125 

Cucumber-root  - 

- 

143 

Cardinal  Plant 

. 

177 

Cardinal  Flower 

- 

ib. 

Cocum  - 

. 

213 

Coakum 

D 

- ib. 

Duck’s-foot 

. 

9 

Dittany 

F 

- 171 

Fever-bush 

- 

91 

Fever- wood  - 

G 

- ib. 

Gold-thread 

- 

97 

Ginseng 

- 

- 191 

Garget 

/ 

H 

213 

Horse-fly-weed 

- 

- 53 

High  Blackberry 

- 

151 

Hairy  American  Bramble  - - 151 

I 


Ipecacuanha  ....  9 

Indigo-weed  - - - - - 53 

Indian  Pink  ...  - 75 

Indian  Ginger  - - - - 85 

Indian  Lettuce  ....  103 

Indian  Sage  - - - - 125 

Indian  Cucumber  ...  143 

Jalap 213 


K 

Kidney-leaved  Asarabacca  85 

M 


Mandrake  -----  @ 

Myrtle-grass  ...  - 63 

Mouth-root  - - - 97 

Marietta  Columbo  - - - 103 

Mountain  Dittany  - - - 171 

Maryland  Cunila  ...  ib. 

Mint-leaved  Cunila  - - ib. 

Mountain  Calalse,  or  Pok-weed  213 


o 

Officinal  Milk-wort  - - - 111 

One-flowered  Cancer-root  - 229 


Index  to  the  English  and  vulgar  names , 


239 


P 


Pink-root  - 

- 75 

Pennyroyal  ... 

165 

Parsley-leaved  Yellow-root 

- £03 

Poke  ----- 

£13 

Pigeon-berries  ... 

- ib. 

Poke-weed  - 

- ib. 

R 

Rattle  Snake-root 

Ill 

Rattle  Snake’s  Master 

- ££3 

s 

Snake-weed  Root 

41 

Snake-root  Birth-wort  - 

- ib. 

Sweet-flag  ...  - 

63 

Sweet-smelling  Flag 

- ib. 

Sweet  Cane  - 

ib. 

Sweet  Grass  - - - - 

- ib. 

Sweet  Myrtle-grass  - 

ib. 

Spice-wood  - - - - 

- 91 

Spice-berry  ... 

ib. 

Seneka  Snake-root 

- Ill 

Senega  Rattle-snake-root  - 

ib. 

Standing  Blackberry 

- 151 

Shrubby  Goose-foot  - 

183 

Scarlet  Lobelia  - 

- 177 

Skoke  - 

213 

T 

Thorough-wort  ... 

- 125 

Thorough-stem 

ib. 

Thorough- wax  ... 

- ib. 

u 

Unsteetla  - 

- 75 

V 

Virginian  Broom-rape 

25 

Virginian  Snake-root 

- 41 

Vegetable  Antimony  - 

125 

w 

Wild  Lemon  ... 

9 

Wild  Indigo  - 

53 

Worm-grass  - 

- 75 

Wild  Ginger  - 

85 

Wild  Allspice  ... 

91 

Wild  Columbo  - 

103 

Wild  Basil  - - - 

- 171 

Worm  Seed  - 

183 

Worm  Goose-foot 

ib. 

Y 

Yellow-root  - - - - 17 

Yellow-wort £03 


'O 


Athsneum  of  Philadelphia 
Almshouse,  Philadelphia,  Library 
Atlee,  Edwin  A.,  M.  D. 

Astley,  Thomas 
Aimes,  Thomas 
Allemong,  Ezra 
Bacon,  George  L.  G. 

Burson,  Stephen,  M.  D. 

Brooke,  John  F. 

Barton,  Edward  H.,  M.  D.  Virginia 
Backus,  E.  F.,  6 copies 
Beesley,  Theophilus  E.,  M.  D. 
Betton,  Samuel,  M.  D. 

Binns,  John 

Bazeley,  C.  W.,  2 copies 
Boyd,  Mr. 

Barton,  Robert  R.,  M.  D.  Surgeon 
U.  States’  Navy 
Burr,  Richard 
Bache,  Franklin,  M.  D. 

Bertron,  David 
Binney,  Horace,  Esq. 

Bonsall,  Caleb,  3 copies 
Baker,  Samuel,  M,  D. 

Buckler,  Dr. 

Baer,  Dr. 

Bain,  Dr. 

VOL.  II. 


Baltimore  Library  Company 
Beaufort  Library  Society,  (S.  C.) 
Bronson,  Dr. 

Bankhead,  William 
Chew,  Benjamin,  Esq. 

Chapman,  N.,  M.  D.  Professor  of 
the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Phy- 
sic in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, 2 copies 
Conyngham,  Redman 
Chamberlayne,  L.  W.,  M.  D. 
Collins,  Zacheus 
Cleaver,  Isaac,  M.  D. 

Cadwalader,  Thomas,  Esq. 

Coale,  E.  J.,  50  copies 
Campbell,  J.  W. 

Coxe,  J.  Redman,  M.  D.,  Professor 
of  Materia  Medica  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania. 

Conrad,  S.  W. 

Caldwell,  Dr.  (Baltimore) 
Chapman,  Dr.  (Baltimore) 
Glendennin,  Dr. 

Chatard,  Dr. 

Cromwell,  Dr. 

Cross,  B.,  M.  D. 

Clarkson,  Rev.  Matthew 

22 


Dorsey,  John  Syng,  M.  D , Profes- 
sor of  Anatomy  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  2 copies 
Dunbar,  William 
Davis,  David  Jones,  M.  D. 

De  Serra,  His  Excellency,  the  Abbe 
Correa,  Minister  from  Portugal 
&c.  to  the  United  States 
David,  John 

Dobson,  Thomas,  2 copies 
Drake,  Daniel,  M.  D. 

Duponseau,  P.  S.,  Esq. 

Dickson,  W. 

Dashall,  Rev.  Alfred 
Ducatel,  Dr.  Edm. 

Donaldson,  Dr. 

Debutts,  E.,  M.  D.  Professor  of  Che- 
mistry in  the  Univer.  of  Maryland 
Dunkell,  Dr. 

Differnderffer,  Dr. 

Dickson,  William,  Lancaster,  (Pa.) 
26  copies. 

Eberle,  John,  M.  D. 

Elliot  Jonathan,  2 copies 
Fletcher,  Thomas 
Francis,  John,  Student  of  Medicine 
Fridge,  Alexander 


242 

Freeman,  James  Philips,  M.  D. 
Field,  Henry,  M.  D. 

Gilpin,  Thomas 
Gallaher,  David,  M.  D. 

Griffiths,  R.  E.  jr.  Student  of  Medi- 
cine 

Gallaher,  James,  Dr. 

Gray,  W.  F. 

Gibson,  William,  M.  D.  Professor  of 
Surgery  in  the  University  of 
Maryland 
Gerard,  Dr. 

Hales,  Peter 
Howard,  John  E.,  Esq. 

Hoff,  John,  10  copies 
Hobby,  \V.  H.  4 copies 
Harrison,  Thomas 
Hare,  C.  W.,  Esq.  Professor  of  Law 
in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
Harris,  Gwinn,  Esq.  Purser  in  the 
U.  States’  navy 

Harris,  Thomas,  M.  D.  Surgeon  in 
the  U.  States’  navy 
Hewson,  Thomas  T.,  Professor  of 
Comparative  Anatomy  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania 
Howe,  Hezekiah,  6 copies 
Hudson,  Edward,  Esq.  Dentist 
Hoskin,  E.  W. 

Hunt,  Dr.  Henry 
Huger,  Benjamin,  M.  D. 

Holcombe,  William  J. 

Hartshorne,  Joseph,  M.  D. 


SUBSCRIBERS’  NAMES. 

Hospital,  Pennsylvania,  Library 
Hill,  C.  M. 

Hoffman,  David,  Esq. 

Hawkins,  Mrs.  Eliza 
Hale,  Thomas,  Esq. 

Inglis,  Rev.  Dr. 

James,  Thomas  C.,  M.  D.  Professor 
of  Midwifery  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania 
Jackson,  Samuel,  M.  D. 

Jones,  Dr.  Thomas  P.,  late  Profes- 
sor of  Chemistry  in  Wm.  & Mary 
College 

Johnson,  Robert  G. 

Jennings,  Rev.  Dr. 

Kirk  and  Mercien,  75  copies 
Klapp,  Joseph,  M.  D. 

Koecker,  Leonard,  Esq.  Dentist 
Kletts,  Frederick 
Kuhn,  Hartmann 
Kosloff,  N.  Russian  Consul 
Keener,  Dr.  D. 

Konig,  C.  S. 

La  Roche,  R.,  M.  D. 

Longman  & Co.  (London)  6 copies 

Lucas,  Harrison 

Lardner,  Hannah 

Leroque  & Milhaux 

Lux,  Mr. 

M'Kean,  J.  B.,  Judge 
Meigs,  Charles  D.,  M.  D. 

Magil,  John  D. 

Mozeley,  W.  P.,  M.  D. 


Monges,  Dr. 

Matthieu,  Joseph,  M.  D. 
M'Clintock,  Thomas 
Meredith,  William,  Esq. 

M'Clure,  William,  Geologist 
Markoe,  John 
Mason,  J.  H. 

Miller,  Rev.  Sami.,  Princeton  (N.  J.) 
Morgan  & M'Guirey,  6 copies 
Mac  Rae,  Duncan 
M'Culloch,  Dr.  J.  H. 

Mann,  William  8c  Co. 

Maxwell,  N.  G. 

M'Henry,  John,  Junr. 

M'llwaine,  George 
Martin,  Dr.  Samuel  B. 

Mackenzie,  Dr. 

M‘Dowell,  Dr.  M. 

Marrast,  John,  Dr. 

Munroe,  Dr. 

Morrison,  Alexander 
Neill,  Henry,  M.  D. 

Nicklin,  P.  H. 

Osborne,  Nath.  M.,  M.  D. 

Otto,  John  C.,  M.  D. 

O'Conner,  Dr. 

Pedersen,  Peter,  Esq.,  His  Excel- 
lency, Danish  Minister 
Peters,  Richard,  Esq.  Judge,  Presi- 
dent Agricultural  Society 
Parker,  Daniel,  Esq.  Adjutant  and 
Inspector  General  Army  U.  S. 
Parrish,  Joseph,  M.  D. 


SUBSCRIBERS’  NAMES 


243 


Physick,  Philip  Syng,  M.  D.  Profes- 
sor of  Surgery  (now  Anatomy,) 
in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania 

Potter,  W.  W. 

Patterson  and  Lambdin,  4 copies 
Palmer,  Thomas  H. 

Peirce,  Isaac 
Parke,  J.  P. 

Phillips  and  Speer,  2 copies 
Patterson,  Edward 
Potter,  Matthew,  M.  D, 

Price,  Nicholas,  Judge 
Rawle,  William,  Esq. 

Royal,  James  T.,  M.  D. 

Robinson,  Benjamin 
Ridout,  John 
Ridgeley,  Dr.  John 
Robinson,  L.  M. 

Rankin,  captain,  British  army 
Ridgeley,  Miss  Sally 

Roth, , Esq.  Sec’y.  of  Legation 

Roberts,  Rev.  Dr. 

Readell,  Dr. 

Ravenel,  Edward 


Righart,  Adam 
Sergeant,  John,  Esq. 

Sergeant,  Henry 
Sergeant,  E.  Spencer,  Esq. 
Sergeant,  Mrs.  John 
Sergeant,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Schott,  George  S.,  M.  D. 

Smith,  John  C. 

Seymour,  Hugh  G.,  M.  D. 

Stringer,  John 
Saunders,  R. 

Schrooder,  Henry 
St.  Mary’s  Seminary 
Stevenson,  Dr. 

Smith,  Robert 
Stoney,  G.  M.,  M.  D. 

Savage,  William,  M.  D. 

Tucker,  Aaron  B.,  M.  D. 

Thomas,  Joseph 
Thomas,  Moses,  9 copies 
Thompson,  John  P. 

Todd,  Samuel  C.,  Esq.  Purser  U. 
States’  navy 

Tilghman,  William,  Esq.  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Pennsylvania. 


Taylor,  Lemuel 
Taylor,  Dr. 

Vaughan,  John 
Vance,  J.  & T.,  2 copies 
Williamson,  George 
Woods,  John,  M.  D. 

Webster  & Skinners,  12  copies 
Wells  & Lilly 
Wyeth,  John 

Wistar,  Caspar,  M.  D.  Professor  of 
Anatomy  in  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  2 copies 
Woodward,  W.  W. 

Wray,  Dr.  T.  J.,  2 copies 
Williams,  W.  T. 

Wittlesey,  D. 

Walsh,  jr.  Robert,  Esq.  Professor 
of  General  Literature  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania. 

Williams,  Nathaniel 
Wardle,  Thomas,  (London)  6 co- 
pies 

Yeates,  Miss 


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